The week of September 21st during National Suicide Prevention Month is focused on one of the five action steps of communicating with someone who may be suicidal. The fourth action step is helping them connect.

How to Help Them Connect

Helping someone with thoughts of suicide connect with ongoing supports (like the Lifeline, 800-273-8255) can help them establish a safety net for those moments they find themselves in a crisis. Additional components of a safety net might be connecting them with supports and resources in their communities. Explore some of these possible supports with them:

  • Are they currently seeing a mental health professional?
  • Have they in the past?
  • Is this an option for them currently?
  • Are there other mental health resources in the community that can effectively help?

One option is to connect to a tele-mental health provider that can provide them with regular and consistent support from a mental health professional.

Another option to allow people to feel connected by distance is the Vibrant Safe Space website. The Safe Space is home to resources and tools to provide you with some extra support in an emotionally safe environment.

Developing a Safety Plan

One way to start helping them find ways to connect is to work with them to develop a safety plan. This can include ways for them identify if they start to experience significant, severe thoughts of suicide along with what to do in those crisis moments. A safety plan can also include a list of individuals to contact when a crisis occurs. 

The My3 app is a safety planning and crisis intervention app that helps you define your network and your plan to stay safe. With MY3 you can be prepared to help yourself and reach out to others when you are having thoughts of suicide. This allows your supports to be stored conveniently on your smartphone for quick access. MY3 is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play, free of charge. The Safety Plan Template can be found here to print. 

Remember: Developing a Safety Plan is only one part of a comprehensive suicide care plan.

Crisis Services Directory

Emergency: 911

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) 24/7

Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio: 1-888-628-9454

For Deaf & Hard of Hearing: For TTY Users, use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255. You can also use the chat.

Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 or text 838255 or chat with VCL

Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or Text TalkWithUs to 66746

Crisis Text Line: text TALK to 741741 to text with a trained crisis counselor

SAMHSA Treatment Referral Hotline (Substance Abuse): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline:1-866-331-9474

The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Also visit your:

  • Primary care provider
  • Local psychiatric hospital
  • Local walk-in clinic
  • Local emergency department
  • Local urgent care center

Suicide prevention resources

Find resources for suicide prevention for your or someone you know here.