Suicide Prevention - In Crisis

On July 16, 2022, you can dial 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Learn more at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline webpage.
Suicide Prevention Lifeline

 

800-273-8255Suicide Lifeline | 866-833-6546 Teen Link | Lifeline Crisis Chat | 741741 Crisis Text Line

This page has the following information.

Thinking about Suicide | Safety Plan and Suicide Safer Homes | Finding a Therapist | Advice and Resources from Suicide Attempt Survivors

Thinking about Suicide

If you are thinking about suicide, have thought about suicide before, or are concerned someone else might be thinking about suicide, please stop and read this.

The Department of Health does not provide crisis services, but help is available. You can reach out for help for yourself or to support someone else.

If you are in crisis, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-273-8255. Press 1 for the Veterans Helpline.

You could also get help by texting “HEAL” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or contacting Lifeline Crisis Chat.

If you're under 21, you can call Teen Link at 866-TEENLINK (866-833-6546) and ask to talk to a peer.

Visit the Hotlines, text, and chat resources for more information.

If you or someone in your home is at risk of suicide or may be in the future, create a safety plan and reduce access to lethal means (objects or substances people could use to harm themselves).

Safety Plan and Suicide Safer Homes

  • Now Matters Now has a guide for creating a safety plan. This is something you can do before a crisis and can include your friends and family. Most safety plans are 1-2 pages. Here is an example.
  • Safer Homes Coalition – a WA task force promoting safe storage of medications and firearms to prevent suicide.
  • King County LOCK-IT-UP – Data, information, and best practices on safe storage of firearms.
  • Emergency Risk Protection Order – This prevents individuals at high risk of harming themselves or others from accessing firearms by allowing family, household members, and police to obtain a court order when there is demonstrated evidence that the person poses a significant danger.
  • Means Matter – The Harvard School of Public Health has information on the most commonly used means for suicide and attempts. They also have recommendations for keeping a family member safety.
  • Prevent Firearm Suicide – The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence created a website on facts, interventions, and resources for firearm-related suicide prevention.
  • Follow-up Matters – The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers follow-up services to support high risk callers, suicide attempt survivors, and referrals from third parties. This creates continuity of care after crisis situations. Call the Lifeline (800-273-8255) and request a follow-up call.

If you may be at risk of suicide in the future, the My3 App from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can help you take care of yourself and stay safe. You can use the app to list your crisis contacts, make a safety plan and use emergency resources.

Finding a Therapist

  • If you have health insurance, check with the insurance company about what providers and services are covered.
  • If you qualify for Medicaid, visit Apple Health for information on how to access treatment services.
  • If your workplace has an employee assistance program, you should be able to get confidential counseling through it.
  • If you go to a school or college with a counseling center or school counselors, they can help you find a counselor.
  • Your local crisis line or state mental health crisis line (by county) should be able to help you with a therapy referral.
  • 2-1-1's online database is another way to find local resources.
  • For 24-hour emotional support, and referrals to treatment and recovery services anywhere in the state, call the Washington Recovery Help Line.
  • If you need to find a therapist and don't know where to start, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's page on national therapist locators may be useful.

Advice and Resources from Suicide Attempt Survivors

Increasingly, people who have been at risk of suicide are taking leadership in suicide prevention. These resources can help you take care of yourself and connect you with people with similar experiences.

  • Now Matters Now is a support network for people who had suicidal thoughts and emotions and problems that felt unsolvable. They share their stories, including research based ways for managing the most painful moments of life, and teach Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills.
  • A Journey Toward Health and Hope (PDF) is a booklet that offers interactive, practical tools for recovering and moving forward after surviving a suicide attempt.
  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's page for suicide attempt survivors offers resources and self-care tips from other attempt survivors.
  • Voices of Hope is AFSP's series of videos featuring those who have struggled with suicide: unscripted interviews with people speaking from their own personal experience.

More information

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