Suicide Prevention

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800.273.TALK (8255)

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a network of crisis centers dedicated to suicide prevention that are located in communities across the country.

Trevor Lifeline
866.488.7386

The Trevor Lifeline is a confidential, toll-free help-line, available 24 hours a day. The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide intervention for LGBTQ youth ages 18-24.

Crisis Textline
Text "HOME" to 741.741 (anyone)

Text "STEVE" to 741.741 (students of color)

Text "CONNECT" to 741.741 (LGBTQ+ students)

LIFENET Hotline
800.543.3638
In Spanish: 877.298.3373
In Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean dialects: 877.990.8585

LIFENET is a confidential toll-free help-line for anyone living in New York City, operated by the Mental Health Association of New York City in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The hotline's staff of trained mental health professionals help callers find the most appropriate mental health and substance abuse services for their needs.

LIFENET can assist in a crisis and provide prompt response to callers in urgent need of psychiatric assistance. LIFENET has authorized linkages with 23 mobile crisis teams and Emergency Medical Services.

Be active in seeking professional help. If you are thinking about suicide, it is important that you clearly communicate your thoughts and/or intentions to end your life to someone. Let others know specifically that you are thinking about suicide (e.g., state, "I'm thinking about ending my life"). You may wish that others would notice how bad you are feeling, but they may not be aware. Let someone know you are contemplating suicide even if you are feeling hopeless — give others the opportunity to intervene before it is too late.

Once you decide to seek help, clearly communicate your thoughts and feelings to a professional who will determine the level of care needed.

For New School students who seek assistance at Counseling Services, this may include:

• Emergency follow-up appointments at Counseling Services
• Medication evaluation
• Psychotherapy referral
• Hospital assessment

It is important that you follow up on treatment. If medication is prescribed, take it exactly as prescribed.

Seek help as soon as possible if you or someone you know exhibits any of the following signs:

• Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself
• Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means
• Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person
• Feeling hopeless
• Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities — seemingly without thinking
• Feeling trapped — like there's no way out
• Increasing alcohol or drug use
• Withdrawing from friends, family, and society
• Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
• Having dramatic mood changes
• Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life
• Giving away possessions
• Posting distressing statuses/posts, messages, photos, videos, links, comments, or hashtags on social media (learn more)

If you experience these feelings, get help! If someone you know exhibits these symptoms, offer help!

• Can't stop the pain
• Can't think clearly
• Can't make decisions
• Can't see any way out
• Can't sleep, eat, or work
• Can't get out of depression
• Can't make the sadness go away
• Can't see a future without pain
• Can't see themselves as worthwhile
• Can't get someone's attention
• Can't seem to get control

• Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
• Be willing to listen. Allow expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings.
• Be non-judgmental. Don't debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don't lecture on the value of life.
• Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
• Don't dare them to do it.
• Don't act shocked. This will put distance between you.
• Don't be sworn to secrecy. Seek support.
• Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance.
• Take action. Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills.
• Get help from Counseling Services on campus, or persons/agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

Be Aware of the Facts

• Suicide occurs across ethnic, economic, social and age boundaries.
• Suicide is preventable. Most suicidal people desperately want to live; they are just unable to see alternatives to their problems.
• Most suicidal people give definite warning signals of their suicidal intentions, but others are often unaware of the significance of these warnings or unsure what to do about them.
• Talking about suicide does not cause someone to become suicidal. 

SafeTALK Training
SafeTALK is a three-hour training program developed by LivingWorks Education that is offered at least once a semester to the New School community. It teaches participants to recognize and engage with people who might be having thoughts of suicide.

Please contact Student Health Services or look for announcements about our next safeTALK training.

SafeTALK teaches participants to recognize and engage with people who might be having thoughts of suicide and to connect them with community resources trained in suicide intervention. After training, participants in the SafeTALK program should be able to:

• Challenge attitudes that inhibit open talk about suicide
• Recognize a person who might be having thoughts of suicide
• Engage them in direct and open talk about suicide
• Listen to the person's feelings about suicide to show that they are taken seriously
• Move quickly to connect them with someone trained in suicide intervention

Please contact Student Health Services or look for announcements about our next safeTALK training.

• American Psychiatric Association
  888.357.7924 and press 0
• American Psychological Association
  800.964.2000
• National Association of Social Workers
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Department of Veterans Affairs

• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
• Anxiety Disorders of America Association
• Mental Health America
• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

• National Institute of Mental Health
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• American Association of Suicidology
• 1-800-LIFENET
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Jed Foundation
• Half of us
• The Transition Year
• MY3 Suicide Prevention App