If you or someone you care about is in a suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to talk with a caring, trained counselor. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7. (Please note that (800) 273-8255, the existing number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, remains operational and will automatically route callers to 988.)
Additional resources for you to get help:
- LACDMH Help Line
24/7 crisis and emotional wellness resources
(800) 854-7771 - “I’m having thoughts of suicide” (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Crisis mental health services - Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Effective prevention resources and programs - LA County Suicide Prevention Network (LASPN)
Mental health professionals, advocates, survivors, researchers and representatives- Annual Suicide Prevention Summit hosted by LASPN on Sept. 14-15, 2023
- National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 10 – 16, 2023)
Information and resources to empower individuals, organizations and communities to take action - Suicide Prevention Week Toolkits (Take Action for Mental Health)
Tools to help with planning and implementing suicide prevention awareness initiatives
Recursos Disponibles de Español:
- Conozca las Señales Depeligro (SAMHSA)
- Cómo Promover la Salud Emocional y Prevenir el Suicidio (SAMHSA)
- Reconozca Las Señales (Each Mind Matters)
- Publicaciones acerca Prevención del Suicidio (National Institute of Mental Health)
Resources if you are concerned for someone else:
- Help a Friend in Need (JED Foundation)
Possible warning signs of friends in distress - Seize the Awkward (Ad Council/AFSP/JED)
Resources to help a friend through a tough time - #BeThe1To (SAMHSA)
Taking action to prevent suicide - Suicide is Preventable (CalMHSA)
Know the signs, find the words, reach out - Suicide Prevention Week (Each Mind Matters)
Tools and resources - Suicide Prevention (Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services)
Support services - Means Matter (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
Suicide, guns, and public health
Resources for families, parents and children:
- Youth Suicide Prevention Project (LACOE)
Resources for parents & students - Teens and suicide: What parents need to know (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Suicide prevention services and resources for parents of teens - What To Do If You’re Concerned About Your Teen’s Mental Health (JED)
A conversation guide - Directing Change
Program and film contest - Virtual Therapy for Young People (AAKOMA)
Mental health resources for youths of color
Resources for LGBTQ+:
- TrevorLine: Get Help Now (The Trevor Project)
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people - Trans Lifeline
Emotional and financial support for trans people in crisis - LGBT National Help Center
Serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning communities
Resources for Persons and Communities Of Color:
- Minority Mental Health Resources (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Find Resources for suicide prevention focused on supporting individuals in minority communities - BIPOC Mental Health (Mental Health America)
General information and resources - AAHI Resource Library (Asian American Health Initiative)
Responding to the Health Needs of Asian Americans - Black Mental Wellness
Evidence-based information and resources on mental health and the Black community - Black/African American (National Alliance on Mental Health)
Mental health support and resources for Black / African American communities - Latinx Therapy
Resources and support for the Latinx community - Black Virtual Therapist Directory (Black Emotional and Mental Health – BEAM)
Listing of African-American virtual therapists
Resources for educators:
- Youth Suicide Prevention Project (LACOE)
Resources for educators - Elementary Curriculum (Sources of Strength)
Strength-based prevention curriculum at the elementary level - The Relationship Between Bullying & Suicide: What We Know and What It Means for Schools (CDC)
Suicide prevention resources for schools - Framework for Successful Messaging (National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention)
Strategies, resources and handouts
Resources for therapists and mental health professionals:
- Suicide Prevention Training (Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center)
Training for mental health professionals - Psychology Tools
Evidence-based psychology tools for mental health professionals - Suicide-Prevention (National Counseling Association)
Free Resources Available to the Public - Suicide Prevention (Talkspace)
A therapist’s guide to talking about suicide - Essential tools for mental health professionals (Therapist Aid)
Therapy worksheets, audio, activities, and more
Resources if you have lost someone to suicide:
- Bereavement Support Groups (Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center)
Groups for both teens and adults - “I’ve lost someone” (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Resources to help you heal - Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors
Support, resources, and networking for survivors - Grief Support for Suicide Loss Survivors (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)
Support services for those living with loss to suicide
Resources for and assisting suicide-attempt survivors:
- Survivors of Suicide Attempts (SOSA) Support Groups (Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center)
Support groups information for survivors of suicide attempts - Suicide Attempt Survivors (American Association of Suicidology)
Resources, support groups, and initiatives - Engaging People with Lived Experiences (National Prevention Resource Center)
A toolkit for organizations
Resources for media:
- Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide (Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center)
- Reporting on Suicide
Best practices and recommendations for reporting suicide