Suicide Prevention ⏤ Help is Available

Your life matters. There is help available. There are people waiting for your call. 

 

Know the Signs

  • Feeling of hopelessness
  • Uncontrolled anger, agitation, or anxiety
  • Withdrawal from friends, family, and community
  • Increase alcohol and/or drug use
  • Trouble sleeping or sleeping all of the time
  • Dramatic mood changes
  • Giving away prized possessions
  • Reckless behavior
  • Feelings of being trapped, like there’s no way out

Get Immediate Support

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, or are feeling anxious, depressed, distressed or upset, it’s important to know: You are not alone. There are people and resources out there to help.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

To get crisis help via text:

To find local resources in your area:

If you are LGBT youth:

To speak to a crisis counselor in Spanish

If you are hard of hearing:

If you are a veteran (or your loved one is a veteran)

From Telecare's President & CEO

Anne Bakar, Telecare President & CEO

Anne Bakar, Telecare President & CEO

Like many around the world, we were shocked and saddened to learn of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain’s deaths by suicide. As two beloved figures of popular culture, news of their deaths prompted an outpouring of support and shed light on the fact that mental illness can affect anyone. It does not discriminate.

Their deaths have also raised awareness about the many resources available right now for people who are considering suicide, or who are having a hard time and need compassionate support. Help is available. There is no need to face hard times alone.

For those of us who’ve worked in behavioral health for decades, these recent suicides also highlight the dramatic changes needed in our country’s mental health systems. It is unacceptable that suicide rates are increasing despite advances in evidenced-based treatment.  

This is a public health crisis, as well as a social and cultural issue, in terms of how we relate to each other as human beings.

We must be willing to have difficult conversations to find better solutions. We must look at wide ranging issues such as the deterioration of family and community support structures, the influence of social media, stagnating opportunities among the  middle class, lack of resources to break down stigma,  and barriers to treatment such as the lack of parity. The list goes on.

At a minimum, we must make it easier for people to speak without worry or shame, so people do not suffer alone needlessly for so long.

Today, we take a small step to address this tragedy with a list of resources that are in place and can be accessed easily.

Ultimately, we must strive to change the trajectory of this disease. Please join us.

It does not need to be like this and it is time to end the suffering. Let the profoundly sad loss of these two individuals spur us to toward a future of greater help, hope, and compassion.

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Please return to this page for more information and articles soon.

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Get Involved

If you’d like to learn more or find ways to be of service, the following resources are a good place to begin.