DIRECTORIES: Canada; United States; International

HELPLINES, CRISIS CENTERS AND ONLINE COUNSELLING: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 24-hour access to a network of certified crisis centers located across the USA. Phone Toll free: 1-800-273-TALK; Samaritans - A 24-hour confidential e-mail service; Kids Help Phone - services for young people - also addresses issues other than suicide; National Crisis Helpline - for use in locating the nearest crisis service in the USA. Phone Toll Free 1-800-999-9999; www.metanoia.org/suicide - conversations and writings for suicidal persons. If you're feeling at all suicidal, be sure to read this page before you take any action. It might just save your life.; San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP) - Services are provided 24 hours a day by over 250 trained volunteers. Also provides basic information on suicide (warning signs, advice, statistics and more); Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, California Services - 24-hour telephone counseling, grief counseling, stress counseling, community education program, seniors program; Boys Town National Crisis Line - 24-hour national crisis line in the USA for children and parents, staffed by caring professionals. Toll free 1-800-448-3000, or for TDD call 800-448-1833; HOPELineUK: 0870 170 4000 (national call rates apply), or 01978 367333
Professional help, practical advice and information to the parents, carers, teachers, professionals and friends of young people at risk of suicide. M–F 7pm–10pm, Sat & Sun 2pm–5pm, answerphone at other times

Are you at risk...

...or concerned about someone being suicidal? Sometimes people end up here because they are actually looking for personal help. If someone was to ask you right now if you are having thoughts of suicide, what would your honest answer be? If yes, this is likely a difficult time for you. You do not need to go through this alone.

Likely, you are already taking your thoughts of suicide seriously. Being alone with thoughts of suicide is one thing that is known to increase the risk of harm or death. Find someone who is comfortable talking about suicide. Someone who will work with you to prevent the risk of these thoughts leading to suicidal actions. One of the quickest and best ways to find out if the helper has these abilities is to tell them that you are having thoughts of suicide and watch their reaction. Don't expect them to be comfortable immediately, but do expect them to show more concern for you than themselves. If they don't measure up, there are others who will. Don't give up. Once you have found someone, don't expect that the helper is going to keep the danger secret or not want extra help. You want a helper who is honest about how much they can do. Lastly, be honest. Don't say anything just to please the helper or promise anything you can't or won't do. Everyone needs to take the time to find what will really help. Suicide is not the only way out.

If you do not know who to reach out to in your community, see the information at the right hand side of this page, or look in the front of the telephone book for Distress, Crisis or Suicide Prevention Centers. Trained helpers are available around the clock to help you get started in finding help.

Please note: LivingWorks offers these links to other websites as a source of further information. LivingWorks does not endorse, warrant, guarantee or necessarily represent the information or views of other organizations and/or other websites linked in this section.