This page has suicide prevention and support resources for both those who suffer from thoughts of suicide to those wanting to help, support someone suffering those thoughts. Some of these are located in Virginia area since I live in Richmond and that is indicated where appropriate.

National Suicide Hotlines

• USA Suicide hotline  1-800-273-8255
• Crisis text line. Text HELP to 741-741
• Veteran’s Services 1-800-273-8255, press 1
• Veteran’s Text line send HELP to 838-255
• Canada 1-833-456-4566
• United Kingdom 116 123
• Australia 13 11 14
• All international suicide hotlines

Virginia Peer Warm Line (Not a crisis line) 8am-midnight, 1-866-400-MHAV (6428)

How to obtain a Temporary Detention Order (TDO) in Virginia -A magistrate may issue a medical temporary detention order if an adult is incapable of making in informed decision to accept necessary medical treatment. A medical temporary detention order allows the person to be detained for 24 hours to permit necessary medical treatment for a person over 18. The police in Richmond only transport and stand by until the TDO is issued.

Suicide Loss and Children

• Guide on what to say to children- Children, Teens and Suicide Loss
• Returning to School After a Suicide Loss: For Teens
• Returning to School After a Suicide Loss: For Younger Children

Suicide Prevention Resources- Self-Help for those who suffer

• Virginia Peer Warm Line (Not a crisis line) 8am-midnight, 1-866-400-MHAV (6428)
• Suicide Safety Plan Template
• Template of a letter to oneself to prevent suicide– Self-help coping strategy
• Book for suicidal persons that is recommended by licensed counselor, Karla Helbert, LPC: How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me: One Person’s Guide to Suicide Prevention
• Resources in Virginia– Numbers to call and links to resources
• Bests Suicide prevention apps – Professionally reviewed apps for suicide prevention

Suicide Prevention Resources- Help someone who suffers

• ASQ suicide screening tool for ERs and Physician Practices
• Resources in Virginia– Numbers to call and links to resources
• One pager on how to talk to someone contemplating suicide from AFSP (American Foundation of Suicide prevention)
• How to have a conversation about suicide– I like the podcast. Plays on any device.
• What do those contemplating suicide say?
• Reporting guidelines at AFSP – (the audio is excellent)
• Reporting on suicide– Guide on language and responsible reporting
• Suicide Loss Support Groups
• Talking points for parents on Netflix series 13 Reasons Why
  • My review on ’13 Reasons Why’
  • Talking points and guides on how to talk to your kids about this show are on this page at the bottom
• Challenge Success  Challenge Success believes our society has become too focused on grades, test scores, and performance, leaving little time for kids to develop the necessary skills to become resilient, ethical, and motivated learners. They provide families and schools with the practical, research-based tools they need to create a more balanced and academically fulfilling life for kids

Suicide Loss

• After a Suicide, A Toolkit for Schools – A guide from AFSP for schools who have suffered a suicide of one of their students
• Survivor Outreach Program – Peer to peer support in your community
• AFSP Resources – For those who’ve lost someone to suicide
• Suicide Loss Support Groups
• More grief support here

Suicide Prevention Training

Google your city, state and the name of the course you want to learn more about. These evidence-based courses can be taken by mental health professionals, parents, community members

• Talk Saves Lives – From AFSP, American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. This is a one hour primer on suicide. Call your state chapter to schedule a free presentation
• ASIST training -Two day training for intervention and prevention
• SafeTalk – Half day training
• Mental Health First Aid – One-day training

Suicide Prevention Events

• Out of the Darkness Community Walks
• Out of the Darkness Campus Walks
• The Overnight Walk

VA Non-Profit Resources for Suicide Prevention

• I Need a Lighthouse – Virginia Beach, VA
• American Foundation of Suicide Prevention – National org, Virginia Chapter
• Mitchell Hash Foundation – Veteran suicide support, Charlottesville, VA
• Living the Dream – Culpepper, Virginia
• Sarah Peterson Foundation – Hampton Roads, Virginia
• Beacon Tree Foundation, Advocates for youth mental health and suicide prevention – Richmond, VA

College Resources

From re-entry back into college after medical withdrawal to groups that can support your student. Helpful resources for students struggling with mental illness and/or Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

• Colleges with SUD recovery programs -Most of these are aimed at addiction recovery.
• College Re-entry –This program is dedicated to helping students with re-entry into college after having withdrawn from their studies. This could be due to any issue including a suicide attempt to loss of a parent or even due to cancer treatment.
• Interactive Screening Program (ISP) from AFSP, American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. Those who exchanged anonymous online messages with an ISP counselor were three times more likely to enter treatment. This program is successfully used at many US colleges. It’s an anonymous online tool for students experiencing mental health issues or suicidal ideation. It’s anonymous until they make the choice to reach out. Advocates – Ask your college to implement this program. UCLA ISP Program
• It’s Real: College Students and Mental Health– There is a 20 minute film for incoming college freshmen and for high school juniors and seniors from the American foundation of suicide prevention as well. Your local AFSP chapter in Washington would have access to that and could arrange for it to be shown at venues in your area. I don’t know if you have events or not but this might be a good event to have to start the conversation and prevent suicide. They premiered it at the January 2017 leadership conference in CA to which I was invited to attend.
• Hold a Campus Out of the Darkness Walk– This can be for high school or college and illustrates support to those who suffer suicidal ideation
• Active Minds Chapters–Active Minds is a mental health organization at colleges across the US

emotionally naked blog posts about suicide

1. Why should I stay alive when I want to kill myself? by Anna Wieder
2. So you are contemplating suicide
3. One reason to live by Tamara Rollison (mother of a child who died)
4. Why didn’t I ask, ‘Do you have thoughts about killing yourself?’
5. What did Charles say prior to suicide to indicate his intentions?
6. Why did he kill himself? Answering the why
7. Did Charles show warning signs for teen suicide?
8. What is suicide?
9. Examples of reporting on suicide
10. What is the ‘wrong’ thing to say to someone thinking of suicideThe Final 48 Hours