Suicide Prevention Resources
Hearing someone talk about suicide can be distressful and upsetting. You want to help him or her stay safe and get professional treatment. But you may not be sure how to help, whether you should take talk of suicide seriously, or if your intervention might even make the situation worse.
Sadly, suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S. And more than 90% of those who die by suicide suffer from depression and other mental disorders.
Most suicides give some warning of their intentions. The most effective way to prevent a friend or loved one from taking their life is to recognize when someone is at risk, take the warning signs seriously and know how to respond.
If you fear someone you know may take their own life, the National Institute of Mental Health recommends: "If you think someone is suicidal, do not leave him or her alone. Try to get the person to seek immediate help from his or her doctor or the nearest hospital emergency room, or call 911. Eliminate access to firearms or other potential tools for suicide, including unsupervised access to medications."
Links to other sites:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's mission is to provide immediate assistance to individuals in suicidal crisis by connecting them to the nearest available suicide prevention and mental health service provider through a toll-free telephone number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). It is the only national suicide prevention and intervention telephone resource funded by the Federal Government.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education, and to reaching out to people with mood disorders and those impacted by suicide.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) supports suicide prevention with the best of science, skills and practice. The Center provides prevention support, training, and informational materials to strengthen suicide prevention networks and advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Funded through a cooperative agreement between the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Education Development Center, Inc., (EDC), SPRC works in collaboration with ten partner organizations.
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
Visit the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center site for information on prevention and intervention programs, publications, research, and statistics on youth suicide.
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to research focused on the understanding, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health.