Suicide and Crisis Hotlines

We want to let you know that we are here for you, we hear you, and are here to talk.

For suicide prevention and emotional crisis, when you feel you can’t go on; let someone know your pain.  Crisis counselors are waiting for  your call.

Trinity Health and Wellness Center, Ms. Annie Cosimano 202-884-9612 and Ms. Cara White 202-884-9616

988lifeline.orgThe National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.  988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This dialing code will be available to everyone across the United States starting on July 16, 2022.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We’re committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.

If you or someone you know needs support now, Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. 988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help.

DeafLEAD: A 24-hour crisis line for deaf or hard of hearing individuals available in ASL.

The Trevor Project: 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and intersex (LGBTQI+) people under the age of 25 as well as their friends and allies. Call 1-866-488-7386, text “START” to 678678, or use TrevorChat online.

Crisis Text Line: Text 741741 from anywhere in the United States to connect with a trained crisis counselor.  English and Spanish language service will be widely available to texters in crisis.

Washington DC Department of Human Services  – Access HelpLine 1-888-7WE-HELP or Suicide Hotline 1-888-793-4357

Maryland Community Services Locator – Crisis Intervention 2-1-1 Maryland Phone: 2-1-1

Prince George ‘s  Community Crisis Services: 301-864-7161; 301-927-4500

Montgomery County Hotline: 240-777-4000

Virginia Suicide Hotline

Risk Of Suicide

If you or someone you know needs support now, Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. 988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help, or call Trinity DPS 202-884-9111 on campus, of 911 immediately off campus.

It can be frightening if someone you love talks about suicidal thoughts. It can be even more frightening if you find yourself thinking about dying or giving up on life. Not taking these kinds of thoughts seriously can have devastating outcomes, as suicide is a permanent solution to (often) temporary problems.

According to the CDC, suicide rates have increased by 30% since 1999. Nearly 45,000 lives were lost to suicide in 2016 alone. Comments or thoughts about suicide — also known as suicidal ideation — can begin small like, “I wish I wasn’t here” or “Nothing matters.” But over time, they can become more explicit and dangerous.

Warning Signs

Here are a few other warning signs of suicide:

  • Increased alcohol and drug use
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Withdrawal from friends, family and community
  • Dramatic mood swings
  • Impulsive or reckless behavior

Suicidal behaviors are a psychiatric emergency. If you or a loved one starts to take any of these steps, seek immediate help from a health care provider or call 911:

  • Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon
  • Giving away possessions
  • Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts
  • Saying goodbye to friends and family

If you are unsure, a licensed mental health professional can help assess.

Risk Factors

Research has found that 46% of people who die by suicide had a known mental health condition. Several other things may put a person at risk of suicide, including:

  • A family history of suicide
  • Substance abuse. Drugs can create mental highs and lows that worsen suicidal thoughts.
  • Intoxication. More than 1 in 3 people who die from suicide are under the influence of alcohol at the time of death.
  • Access to firearms
  • A serious or chronic medical illness
  • Gender. Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are nearly 4x more likely to die by suicide.
  • A history of trauma or abuse
  • Prolonged stress
  • A recent tragedy or loss

Support In A Crisis

When a suicide-related crisis occurs, friends and family are often caught off-guard, unprepared and unsure of what to do. The behaviors of a person experiencing a crisis can be unpredictable, changing dramatically without warning.

There are a few ways to approach a suicide-crisis:

  • Talk openly and honestly. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like: “Do you have a plan for how you would kill yourself?”
  • Remove means such as guns, knives or stockpiled pills
  • Calmly ask simple and direct questions, like “Can I help you call your psychiatrist?”
  • If there are multiple people around, have one person speak at a time
  • Express support and concern
  • Don’t argue, threaten or raise your voice
  • Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong
  • If you’re nervous, try not to fidget or pace
  • Be patient

Like any other health emergency, it’s important to address a mental health crisis like suicide quickly and effectively. Unlike other health emergencies, mental health crises don’t have instructions or resources on how to help or what to expect (like the Heimlich Maneuver or CPR). That’s why NAMI created Navigating a Mental Health Crisis: A NAMI Resource Guide for Those Experiencing a Mental Health Emergency, so people experiencing mental health emergencies and their loved ones can have the answers and information they need when they need it.

If your friend or family member struggles with suicidal ideation day-to-day, let them know that they can talk with you about what they’re going through. Make sure that you adopt an open and compassionate mindset when they’re talking. Instead of “arguing” or trying to disprove any negative statements they make (“Your life isn’t that bad!”), try active listening techniques such as reflecting their feelings and summarizing their thoughts. This can help your loved one feel heard and validated.

Let them know that mental health professionals are trained to help people understand their feelings and improve mental wellness and resiliency. Psychotherapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, can help a person with thoughts of suicide recognize ineffective patterns of thinking and behavior, validate their feelings and learn coping skills. Suicidal thoughts are a symptom, just like any other — they can be treated, and they can improve over time.

Suicide is not the answer. There is hope.

(https://www.nami.org/find-support/family-members-and-caregivers/preventing-suicide)