Suicide Awareness and Prevention Resources

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and safe emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We’re committed to improving crisis services.  We work on suicide prevention. We empower people and build awareness. Anyone could be struggling with suicide.

Using 988 is free. When you call, text, or chat 988, your conversation is confidential. 988 provides you judgment-free care. Talking with someone can help save your life.

Call 988

  • First, you’ll hear a message that gives you service selection options. 
  • We’ll play some hold music while you are connected to a counselor with our Veterans, Spanish-language, LGBTQI+ services, or your local 988 Lifeline contact center.
  • A counselor will say hello and introduce themselves. 
  • Your skilled counselor will ask you if you are safe.
  • After they ask about your safety, your counselor will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share any resources that may be helpful.

Help for: 

The aftermath of a suicide attempt can be filled with raw and complicated emotions. Finding hope after surviving a suicide attempt is possible. Whether you have had a recent history with an attempt or your experience was in the past, the 988 Lifeline is available for support, 24/7.

You will find tips and resources to support yourself, a loved one, and other members of the Black community. Call 988.

Our network of crisis centers offers many services for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, including veterans. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can chat with a 988 Lifeline crisis counselor 24/7 by:

Deaf or hard of hearing ASL users – call 988 Videophone 

Online chat – Click the chat button 

988 Text – Send any message to 988 to start a text conversation

For TTY Users – Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

The road to emotional recovery after a natural or human-caused disaster can be long, but you’re not alone. 

Information and resources for those looking for help and support for yourself or loved ones who identify within the vast, diverse, and thriving LGBTQI+ communities. LGBTQI+ people under 25 can access 24/7 LGBTQI+ support on 988. To call an LGBTQI-trained crisis counselor, dial 988 and then press 3. To text, send the word PRIDE to 988. To chat, you can opt-in on the Pre-Chat Survey above by checking off the box for LGBTQI+ support.

Losing a loved one to suicide is hard and can come with a lot of feelings. There is support available to help survivors of suicide loss like you, your friends and family cope with the loss.

The aftermath of a loved one’s suicide can be full of confusing and painful feelings. If you’re struggling, the Lifeline is always here to provide support.

Maternal mental health concerns can include a range of symptoms, including but not limited to depression, anxiety and psychosis. These can occur during pregnancy and/or postpartum. When left untreated, these symptoms can cause devastating consequences for the mother and her family.

You will find tips and resources to support yourself, a loved one, and other members of Native American, Indian, Indigenous, and Alaska Native communities.

Neurodivergence describes individuals who may process the world in different ways than the general population. The word is used to describe individuals living with conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders, and others.

Crisis feels different for everybody and can arise from a wide range of situations before, during, or after military service.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people between 10 to 24. Sometimes it feels as though your struggle is being underestimated by your age. But we hear you, and help is available.

Massachusetts Resources

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention Program

Our goal is to reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts and promote the mental health and well-being among Massachusetts residents.

Other resources

University of Oklahoma Suicide Prevention Resource Center – Massachusetts Resources

Fact Sheet last updated on 11/19/24

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Disclaimer: INDEX is pleased to provide you this information. Please note,  this information is not comprehensive, nor is it intended to take the place of professional advice. We encourage you to check other resources of such information. No endorsement by the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, DisabilityInfo.org,  INDEX, or affiliates, should be inferred. We reserve the right to remove, to modify, or to add any information at any time, for any reason, and without notice.