Suicide prevention starts with recognizing the warning signs of suicide and taking them seriously. Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life. National and local mental health services, listed below, offer telephone, chat, text and other resources for people who are at risk of suicide. Contact your local mental health authority or call 2-1-1 and ask for the LMHA in your area.
Learn important information on how to help someone who may have suicidal thoughts or feelings. Download the suicide prevention wallet card (PDF) which identifies warning signs, specific steps to help someone and resources to get help.
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Call: 800-273-8255 (800-273-TALK)
- Chat online: suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- Support for people who are deaf and hard of hearing: 800-799-4889
Support for Veterans and Their Loved Ones
The Veterans Crisis Line connects veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring and confidential support 24/7.
- Call: 800-273-8255 and Press 1
- Chat online: veteranscrisisline.net
- Send a text message: 838255
- Support for people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 crisis support and trains volunteers to support people in crisis.
- Text: TX to 741741 for free, 24/7 crisis support in the U.S.
- Visit: crisistextline.org
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning young people under 25.
- Chat online thetrevorproject.org
- Call: 866-488-7386
- Text: START to 678678
Language Matters
Discussing suicide in a neutral and factual manner decreases stigma and encourages others to open up about suicide. Download Language Matters: Talking About Suicide (PDF) for more information about speaking about suicide in a safe and caring manner.
Postvention
Postvention describes the response provided to individuals and communities to promote hope and healing after a suicide death. To learn more about safe postvention practices, download Postvention (PDF).
Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue is real and affects people working in the mental health field. Combating compassion fatigue is an important part of suicide prevention. Learn more about the symptoms of compassion fatigue by downloading Compassion Fatigue (PDF).
Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network
The MHTTC provides training and technical assistance to enhance the capacity of the behavioral health and related workforces to deliver evidence-based practices to people with mental illness. Its Northeast and Caribbean region provides many resources in English and Spanish and recently produced two resources for assessing and evaluating suicide risk.
Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative
Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative provides free resources, educational information, phone apps and training.
- Visit: texassuicideprevention.org
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
AFSP has local chapters throughout the state that can deliver education programs to schools, workplaces and communities.
- Visit: afsp.org/our-work/education/
National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Local NAMI chapters can deliver education programs to communities.
- Visit: nami.org
Help Outside the United States
To find a suicide helpline outside the United States, visit: