• Home
•  » Suicide

Suicide

by Marianne Cook, LICSW, Clinician, Harvard University Mental Health Service

Suicide is currently the third-leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States, and the fourth-leading cause among preteens. More than 15 percent of high school students report that they have seriously contemplated suicide, while even more experience thoughts about suicide at one time or another. The majority of individuals who attempt suicide have a diagnosable mental health condition such as depression. Suicide is often preventable if such conditions are recognized and treated, and if warning signs are taken seriously. [More]

NOTE: Choose a location before choosing a topic to limit results to organizations relevant to residents of that community.

Resource Organizations » Suicide

12 listing(s), including 4 with hotlines and 1 offering support groups

In Massachusetts

Samaritans of Boston

Samaritans' purpose is to alleviate despair, isolation, distress and suicidal feelings among individuals in our community; to educate the public about suicide prevention; and to reduce the stigma associated with suicide. We accomplish this through services that emphasize confidential, nonjudgmental, and compassionate listening.

The Samaritans provides a free and confidential 24-hour phone befriending line (see phone numbers above). This unique service, which is staffed by trained volunteers from locations in Boston and Framingham, provides unconditional and non-judgemental support to those who are alone, depressed or in crisis. Whatever the challenge or struggle, anyone who is suffering can find at The Samaritans a caring, empathetic ear, eager to listen and understand.

Samaritans also offers peer support services to those who have lost a loved one to suicide, including our SafePlace support groups in communities throughout greater Boston and Metrowest, and visits by trained Survivor to Survivor Network Volunteers. For a list of survivor support services, visit the website.

Samariteens of Boston

Samariteens is the youth peer leadership segment of Samaritans. It is dedicated specifically to the prevention of suicide among teens. Begun in 1986, this teen help line provides confidential peer support and understanding to teens who are struggling with feelings of depression, loneliness and stress. From 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, this service is staffed by volunteers between the ages of 15 and 18; outside those hours, calls are answered by adult volunteers.

There are a million reasons to feel alone. Samariteens are available to talk about any of them. Callers to the Samariteen helpline do not have to be feeling suicidal, and most callers are not. Each year, more than 4,000 callers receive support, respect, acceptance and tolerance, for whatever reason they call.

Adolescent Wellness, Inc.

Adolescent Wellness, a non-profit 501c3 organization, was founded to simplify prevention of depression and suicide in adolescents. A primary activity is creating awareness of prevention resources from McLean Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston, which are available to every school with any grade 7-12, including universal preventive intervention curricula. The newest work is in teen leadership programming on resilience and referral through supportive key adults.

Needham Coalition for Suicide Prevention

The Needham Coalition for Suicide Prevention was organized in 2006 as a community response to the deaths by suicide of four young people over the previous eighteen-month period. It is a broad-based coalition reaching out to the town's diverse constituencies across the age continuum. NEEDHAM ACTS is the Coalition's website. It offers information for all ages on how to recognize the warning signs of suicide and connect with a variety of local services to prevent suicide.

Needham Health Department

The Needham Health Department offers a range of mental health services for citizens of the town. Public Health Nurses provide confidential counseling and referrals to all ages. Short-term home-based services for at-risk teenagers and their families are provided through Riverside Community Care's Alternative Youth Services program. The program includes family counseling, advocacy, information, and referral. Call the Health Department for more information on these free services. The town's Substance Abuse Prevention and Education program provides informational programs, educational resources, and confidential substance abuse support services for Needham youth, adults, and seniors. Contact Carol Read at the Health Department to find out more about inpatient and outpatient treatment, individual and group counseling, and peer support resources regarding substance abuse, addiction and chemical dependency.

Needham Youth Services

This is a town-funded department which provides professional and confidential mental health services to youth and their families in Needham. It offers support, information, and direction on issues such as peer relationships, stress, grief and loss, substance use, suicide, and other concerns. Most services are free of charge. The department collaborates regularly with civic and community organizations on a variety of projects.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)

SPRC provides prevention support, training, and resource materials to strengthen suicide prevention networks and is the first federally funded center of its kind. SPRC provides information from suicide prevention and mental health news to strategic tools for developing suicide prevention programs. The SPRC website includes individual state suicide prevention pages, news and events, an online library, training, and links to other web sites. SPRC supports suicide prevention with the best of science, skills and practice to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP).

Outside Massachusetts

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis. If you need help, please dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You will be routed to the closest possible crisis center in your area. With more than 130 crisis centers across the country, our mission is to provide immediate assistance to anyone seeking mental health services. Call for yourself, or someone you care about. Your call is free and confidential. Para obtener asistencia en espanol durante las 24 horas, llame al 1-888-628-9454. A program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Nineline

Covenant House Nineline is for kids who need to talk. Crisis counselors are available 24/7 to discuss issues around family, relationships, feelings, suicide, basic needs, abuse, health, sex, drugs and alcohol, and running away. The hotline is free and confidential. The Nineline website has information for young people on a wide range of physical and mental health topics.

Freedom From Fear

Freedom From Fear is a national not-for-profit mental health advocacy association. The mission of FFF is to impact, in a positive way, the lives of all those affected by anxiety, depressive and related disorders through advocacy, education, research and community support. The website provides information on anxiety and depression along with self-screening tools for these conditions, referrals for support groups and mental health professionals, and resources on accessing treatment for those with and without health insurance.

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)

The mission of SAVE is to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, reduce stigma and serve as a resource to those touched by suicide. SAVE's prevention and education programs are designed to increase knowledge about depression, other brain illnesses and the need for assessment and treatment as suicide prevention; increase knowledge about symptoms of depression and the warning signs of suicidal thinking and behavior; increase understanding and the use of intervention skills that can help avoid the tragedy of suicide; and increase knowledge about community resources and how to access and use them. The SAVE website includes information about the symptoms of depression and the signs that someone is suicidal, as well as tools for survivors coping with the loss of a loved one to suicide.

Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Violence is a serious public health problem in the United States. From infants to the elderly, it affects people in all stages of life. In 2005, more than 18,000 people were victims of homicide and more than 32,000 took their own life. The number of violent deaths tells only part of the story. Many more survive violence and are left with permanent physical and emotional scars. Violence also erodes communities by reducing productivity, decreasing property values, and disrupting social services. This CDC website includes information on a variety of topics related to violence prevention, including youth violence, relationship violence, and suicide.

BACK TO TOP

Additional Sources of Information

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a collection of information about depression and suicide including clinical reports and family and community resources. www.aap.org/healthtopics/depression.cfm

Publications

List of books, articles and other publications on Suicide.

36th Annual National Suicide Prevention Week, September 5th - 11th, 2010. See Families, Community Systems and Suicide, from the American Association of Suicidology.

In Crisis?
Click here

Need a referral? Call us at 617-332-3666 x 411.

Tools for Providers

Site Map

Can't find what you need or need a referral to a mental health practitioner?
Call 617-332-3666 x 411

The work of Project INTERFACE is supported in part by the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP).