Choose Hope: Resources

Eight Stories Up: An Adolescent Chooses Hope Over Suicide by DeQuincy A. Lezine, PH.D with David Brent, M.D., is both the touching memoir of how Lezine survived the desire to commit suicide and a useful guide that will ease the isolation and hopelessness caused by the thoughts of suicide. Earlier today we posted an excerpt. Below you will find a list of resources you can turn to if you are considering suicide.

Crisis Hotline

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
(800) 273-TALK (8255)
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Connect to a local crisis center 24/7.

Organizations

Active Minds on Campus
1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 418
Washington, DC 20009
www.activemindsoncampus.org
National organization that focuses on college mental health, with affiliated groups on college and university campuses throughout the United States.

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
3615 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016-3007
(202) 966-7300
www.aacap.org
Professional association for psychiatrists specializing in children and adolescents.

American Association of Suicidology
5221 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20015
(202) 237-2280
www.suicidology.org
Professional organization that focuses on understanding, training, and preventing suicide.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
120 Wall St., 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10005
(888) 333-2377
(212) 363-3500
www.afsp.org
Private foundation that funds suicide prevention research and support groups for suicide survivors.

American Psychiatric Association
1000 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1825
Arlington, VA 22209
(888) 357-7924
www.psych.org
Professional association for psychiatrists.

American Psychological Association
750 First St., NE
Washington, DC 20002
(800) 374-2721
www.apa.org
Professional association for psychologists.
Information and psychologist directory: www.apahelpcenter.org

Centre for Suicide Prevention
1202 Centre St., SE, Suite 320
Calgary, AB T2G 5A5
Canada
(403) 245-3900
Canadian organization for suicide prevention that has general information and resources specifically for Canadians.

International Association for Suicide Prevention
I.A.S.P. Central Administrative Office
Le Barade
F-32330 Gondrin
France
þ33 562 29 19 47
www.med.uio.no/iasp/
Source for international contacts and information on suicide prevention.

The Jed Foundation
583 Broadway, Suite 8B
New York, NY 10012
(212) 647-7544
www.jedfoundation.org
Organization focused on college suicide prevention and mental health.
Online mental health resource, with specific information for many colleges: www.ulifeline.org

Mental Health America (formerly National Mental Health Association)
2001 N. Beauregard St., 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
(703) 684-7722
www.nmha.org
Organization that seeks to help ‘‘ALL people live mentally healthier lives,’’ with state and community affiliates.
Mental Health Infosource
www.mhsource.com
General information about mental health, including e-mail newsletters on a variety of mental health problems.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
(703) 524-7600
www.nami.org
Supports people with mental illness and their families with state and community affiliates. NAMI also has free information about psychiatric disorders, medications, and other related topics.

National Association of Social Workers
750 First St., NE, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 408-8600
www.socialworkers.org
Professional association of social workers.
Information and directory of social workers: www.helpstartshere.org

National Institute of Mental Health
Office of Communications
6001 Executive Blvd.
Rm. 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
(866) 615-6464
www.nimh.nih.gov
Division of the National Institutes of Health (U.S. government health research) that focuses on research about mental illness and mental health issues.

National Mental Health Consumer’s Self-Help Clearinghouse
1211 Chestnut St., Suite 1207
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(800) 553-4539
(215) 751-1810
www.mhselfhelp.org
Information about various ways for people with mental health problems to help themselves or help each other.

National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide
P.O. Box 75571
Washington, DC 20013
(202) 549-6039
www.nopcas.org
Organization that focuses on suicide prevention among racial and ethnic minority groups.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
National Mental Health Information Center
P.O. Box 42557
Washington, DC 20015
(800) 789-2647
www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov
Gateway to many U.S. government mental health services and programs.

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
8120 Penn Avenue South, Suite 470
Bloomington, MN 55431
(952) 946-7998
www.save.org
Organization focused on a national public awareness campaign, education and training, and resource distribution for suicide prevention and grief after suicide.

Suicide Prevention Action Network USA
1025 Vermont Ave., NW, Suite 1066
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 449-3600
www.spanusa.org
Organization dedicated to suicide prevention through education, awareness, and community action. Web site has easy ways to keep up with U.S. government action related to suicide prevention or mental health, and to contact government representatives to voice support.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Education Development Center, Inc.
55 Chapel St.
Newton, MA 02458-1060
877-GET-SPRC (877-438-7772)
www.sprc.org
Source of information and training. Customized information is available depending on your role (teen, college student, teacher, etc.), along with an online library.

The Trevor Project
Administrative Offices
9056 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 100
West Hollywood, CA 90069
www.thetrevorproject.org
Organization that focuses on suicide prevention among gay and lesbian youth.
Volunteers in Healthcare
111 Brewster St.
Pawtucket, RI 02860
(401) 729-3284
www.rxassist.org
Organization affiliated with Brown University that provides information and application help for Patient Assistance Programs where low-income individuals or families can get free (or low-cost) medications.