Suicide in Adults
Related Topics
by Marianne Cook, LICSW, Clinician, Harvard University Mental Health Service
More than 33,000 Americans commit suicide each year—the equivalent of one suicide every 16 minutes in this country. There may be as many as 25 suicide attempts for every completed suicide. The majority of individuals who attempt suicide have a diagnosable mental health condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, or substance dependence. Suicide is preventable if such conditions are recognized and treated, and if warning signs are taken seriously. Indeed, former Surgeon General David Satcher called suicide “the most preventable form of death in the U.S. today.”
more »Resource Organizations » Suicide
11 listing(s), including 5 with hotlines and 2 offering support groups
In Massachusetts
BEST, Boston Emergency Services Team
24 hours a day, seven days a week. By using this helpline, a caller
is assisted in dealing with psychiatric crisis support,
information, and referrals. The caller may be directed to a
B.E.S.T. Urgent Care Center, a Designated Emergency Department, or
a crisis intervention mobile team may be dispatched to the site of
the crisis. The Urgent Care Center is located at the Dr. Solomon
Carter Fuller Building, 85 E. Newton Street, Boston. It is open
from 7am-11pm. It is strongly advised that prior to arrival to
Urgent Care Center the Call Center be contacted at
1-800-981-4357.
Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention
The Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention is a broad based
inclusive alliance of suicide prevention advocates, including
public and private agency representatives, policy makers, suicide
survivors, mental health and public health consumers and providers
and concerned citizens committed to working together to reduce the
incidence of self-harm and suicide in the Commonwealth.
Riverside Emergency Services
Twenty-four hour a day, 7 day a week on-site and mobile teams
provide psychiatric and substance abuse assessment, emergency
medication evaluation, information, referral, hospital prescreening
and admission. The Emergency Services utilize a multi-disciplinary
approach to intervention and treatment and collaborate closely with
other community resources.
Samaritans of Boston
www.samaritansofboston.org
Offers support group(s)
Boston Hotline: 617-247-0220
Framingham Hotline: 508-875-4500
Toll-Free: 877-870-4673
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.
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.
Berkshire Coalition for SUICIDE PREVENTION
Our mission is to save lives. Together we can build resilience in
our community, educate the public and strengthen the response to
community need. The Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention was
formed to address the higher than state average rates for self-harm
and suicide here in Berkshire County. The mission of BCSP is to
save lives. Together we can build resilience in our community,
educate the public, and strengthen the response to community need.
Please see our News and Events Pages for more information about our
organization.
Who We Are: Volunteers from the health sector and law enforcement, educators and students, community organizers, social workers, mental health providers, policy makers, survivors of suicide loss and concerned citizens
What We Do To Help: EDUCATE about risk factors for suicide & self harm. ASSIST populations identified as being at-risk. REDUCE stigma and break barriers to self-help. PARTNER with schools, agencies, and providers. SECURE funding from public and private sources. ADVOCATE for public policy issues & budgets.
Holds public education series focusing on at risk populations for suicide on the third Wednesday of month, from 5:30 – 7:00 pm. At the Brien Center @ 333 East St. 1st floor conference room. For more information go to www.berkshirecoalition.org.
Who We Are: Volunteers from the health sector and law enforcement, educators and students, community organizers, social workers, mental health providers, policy makers, survivors of suicide loss and concerned citizens
What We Do To Help: EDUCATE about risk factors for suicide & self harm. ASSIST populations identified as being at-risk. REDUCE stigma and break barriers to self-help. PARTNER with schools, agencies, and providers. SECURE funding from public and private sources. ADVOCATE for public policy issues & budgets.
Holds public education series focusing on at risk populations for suicide on the third Wednesday of month, from 5:30 – 7:00 pm. At the Brien Center @ 333 East St. 1st floor conference room. For more information go to www.berkshirecoalition.org.
Bridgewell Counseling Services
Located in Lowell, Bridgewell Counseling Services (BCS)provides
comprehensive behavioral health treatment and continuity of care to
adults with psychiatric and developmental disabilities in a setting
that respects individual strengths and differences. We consider it
a part of our mission to engage individuals who have struggled with
continued treatment due to the severity of their illness. Our
standard outpatient services include individual, couples, family,
and group psychotherapies, diagnosis and treatment, and medication
assessment and management.
Bridgewell Counseling Services seeks to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities through consultation, collaboration and coordination of care. Our experienced team of clinical nurse specialists, psychiatrist, and psychotherapists provides services in a manner to ensure that individuals and their families, other care providers and advocates are active collaborators in the process of growth, change and recovery.
The clinic is licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). BCS accepts Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurance plans.
Bridgewell Counseling Services seeks to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities through consultation, collaboration and coordination of care. Our experienced team of clinical nurse specialists, psychiatrist, and psychotherapists provides services in a manner to ensure that individuals and their families, other care providers and advocates are active collaborators in the process of growth, change and recovery.
The clinic is licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). BCS accepts Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurance plans.
Suicide.org
In addition to this fact sheet, this web site has information on
suicide intervention, prevention, and support with a list of
several Helplines including those for military veterans, in Spanish
and text telephone.
The Samaritans of Merrimack Valley
www.familyserviceinc.com/Samaritans/Overview.html
430 North Canal Street
Lawrence, MA 01840978-327-6671
The Samaritans set out as a small group of volunteers aiming to
reduce the incidence of suicide in the Merrimack Valley by
providing “befriending†to
individuals who were lonely, depressed and contemplating suicide or
self-injury. In 2004, the Samaritans of Merrimack Valley joined
Family Service, Inc., which now provides financial and
administrative support to the Samaritans. Suicide prevention
remains the primary goal of the Samaritans.The Samaritans of
Merrimack Valley is also dedicated to supporting individuals who
have lost a loved one to suicide. The Samaritans offers individual
and group support to survivors to facilitate a healthy grieving
process and help individuals come to terms with their loss.
Samaritans staff and volunteers provide educational support for
schools, businesses, youth and senior centers, civic organizations,
faith-based institutions, and volunteer groups. Samaritans provides
information to help the audience identify individuals who may be at
risk, to educate them so that they can talk with a person at-risk,
and to provide resources for those at risk. The Samaritans provide
a crisis helpline, survivor services, outreach & education
among other services.
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.
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.
Additional Sources of Information
- Fact Sheet: Older Adults and Depression & Suicide, from the National Institute of Mental Health. The web site also features various publications and articles on treatment, prevention, and intervention.
- Suicide in the Elderly, from Suicide.org, a site offering information on suicide intervention, prevention and support with a list of several Helplines including those for military veterans, in Spanish and text telephone
- At a Glance: Suicide Among the Elderly, a fact sheet found on the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention web site.
General Resources on Aging and Wellness
- From Project INTERFACE: Caregiver Resources.
- Geriatric Mental Health Foundation.
- “Older Adults and Mental Health,” from Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.
- PubMed, a collaboration of the U. S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health, provides a comprehensive list of journal articles regarding mental health and older adults.
Disclaimer: Material on the Project INTERFACE web site is intended as general information. It is not a recommendation for treatment, nor should it be considered medical or mental health advice. Project INTERFACE urges families to discuss all information and questions related to medical or mental health care with a health care professional.
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