Don’t be afraid to reach out — for yourself or someone else. The recent suicides of fashion designer Kate Spade and chef-and-author-turned-TV personality Anthony Bourdain have placed the spotlight once again on the alarming increase of suicide in the US in recent years.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is now the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. But when at-risk individuals and those who know them reach out for help, the chance of suicide significantly decreases.
One immediate thing each of us can do is have hotline numbers at hand in case we, or anyone we know, needs help:
The national suicide hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) any time of day or night, or chat online.
There is also a free crisis text line — dial HOME to 741741.
For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.
For crisis centers around the world, visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide.
Calls and texts are kept confidential when calling crisis and suicide prevention hotlines, and they have 24-hour accessibility:
Here’s a list of some other organizations and websites with resources on suicide prevention, as well as help for people who’ve lost a loved one to suicide:
- Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide, an entity of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
- Jed Foundation
- National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
There may be other resources through your local diocese or county.
Read more:
How a Christian can respond to the suicide epidemic
