Mental Health: Call a Hotline for Help

Last week, the world was left stunned by the news that American fashion designer and businesswoman Kate Spade was found dead in an apparent suicide. She was 55. Three days later it was American celebrity chef, author, and television personality Anthony Bourdain; he was 61.

There was a flurry of questions—mostly why, why, why. Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain didn’t fit the bill, they say. Because both of them had it all: they were talented, rich, and famous; they were at the height of their career, beloved by their fans all over the world. But unknown to many, they were also both battling struggles within themselves, both suffering from depression.

What the Numbers Say

Troubling statistics say 123 Americans commit suicide daily and that “millions more consider, plan, and attempt to kill themselves.” Moreover, according to a report recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the leading cause of death in the US. Further, CDC’s report titled “Suicide Rising Across the US,” says:

• suicide rates are over 30% higher in half of states since 1999.
• in 2016, almost 45,000 lives were lost to suicide.
• more than half of people (54%) who died by suicide did not have a known mental health condition.

On top of these, studies show that suicide rates are higher in the LGBT community. According to this article, “gay and bisexual men are four times more likely to attempt suicide in their lifetime than heterosexual men.” All the more so in the case of the LGB youth (almost five times as likely) and transgender adults (40% of them reportedly made a suicide attempt).

The Signs

CDC says there are 12 suicide warning signs:

• Feeling like a burden
• Withdrawal and isolation from family and friends
• Increased anxiety
• Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
• Increased substance use
• Looking for a way to access lethal means
• Increased anger or rage
• Extreme mood swings
• Expressing hopelessness
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Talking or posting about wanting to die
• Making plans for suicide

What We Can Do

According to CDC, here is what we can do for our loved one:

• Ask someone you are worried about if they’re thinking about suicide.
• Keep them safe. Reduce access to lethal means for those at risk.
• Be there with them. Listen to what they need.
• Help them connect with ongoing support like the Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).
• Follow up to see how they’re doing.
• Find out how this can save a life by visiting: www.bethe1to.com.

Moreover, some experts offered tips on what to do when our loved one is severely depressed and contemplating suicide. Take a look at the article here.

Where to Get Help

Are you having suicidal thoughts? Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. You may also click here or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for options and more resources.

The suicide action phone numbers for other countries are:

US – Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 Available 24/7

For the LGBT youth under 24, call TrevorLifeline—a crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386

TrevorText—Text “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200. Standard text messaging rates apply. Available Monday through Friday between 3pm–10pm EST / Noon–7pm PT.

Canada – Trans Lifeline: (877) 330-6366 Available 24/7

Helpline 1: 604-872-3311 (Greater Vancouver)

Helpline 2: 18666613311 (Toll free-Howe Sound/Sunshine Coast)

Helpline 3: 1-866-872-0113 (TTY)

Helpline 4: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) (BC-wide)

Website: WWW.CRISISCENTRE.BC.CA

Mental Health Crisis Line 1-866-996-0991 (Ottawa and Eastern Ontario)

Mental Help Health Line 1-866-531-2600 (Ontario)

Association québécoise de prévention du suicide: 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)

Also, check out http://suicideprevention.ca/ for educational materials and resources. You can also find local crisis centers through this link: http://suicideprevention.ca/need-help/

Australia – For crisis or suicide prevention support for LGBTQI in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp. Click here for other support services within Australia.

Singapore – Oogachaga Hotline – 6226 2002 (Tue to Thu 7pm to 10pm and Sat 2pm to 5pm)

Oogachaga WhatsApp – 8592 0609 (Tue to Thu 7pm to 10pm and Sat 2pm to 5pm)

Oogachaga face to face counselling – make an appointment

Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) 24-hour suicide prevention hotline – 1800 221 4444

Philippines – Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (632) 804-HOPE (4673) and 0917-558-HOPE (4673)

2919 (toll-free number for all GLOBE and TM subscribers)

India – For various suicide hotlines in general, call here. For the LGBT community, call Sahaay Helpline 1800-2000-113 for free for counseling on “HIV/AIDS, STI, general health issues, and any psycho social and legal issues related to MSM and transgender individuals.

Indonesia – NGO Jangan Bunuh Diri

Email: [email protected]

phone: 021 9696 9293

Into the light

Email:  [email protected]

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/intothelightid

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/intothelightid

For the other Asian countries, click here.

 France –  SOS Help

Boite Postale 43,

Cedex 92101

Boulogne

Contact by: – Phone

Hotline: 01 46 21 46 46

Website: soshelpline.org

Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: 15:00 – 23:00

Suicide Ecoute 

Paris

Contact by: – Phone

Hotline: 01 45 39 40 00

Website: suicide.ecoute.free.fr

Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: 00:00 – 23:00

E.P.E. idF. Fil Sante Jeunes 

Paris

Hotline: 0800 235 236

Website: filsantejeunes.com

Fédération S.O.S Amitié France

11, rue des Immeubles industriels 75011 Paris

Contact by: – Phone

Hotline: (+33) (0)1 40 09 15 22

Website: sos-amitie.com

UK – Samaritans UK & ROI

National

Contact by: Face to Face – Phone – Letter: – E-mail:

Hotline: +44 (0) 8457 90 90 90 (UK – local rate)

Hotline: +44 (0) 8457 90 91 92 (UK minicom)

Hotline: 1850 60 90 90 (ROI – local rate)

Hotline: 1850 60 90 91 (ROI minicom)

Website: samaritans.org

E-mail Helpline: [email protected]

24 Hour service

Russia – to talk to a psychologist at the Russian LGBT Network, you may call their hotline for LGBT at 8-800-555-08-68 from Monday through Friday, 8-12PM. It is available 24 hours a day during the weekends. Simply ask the operator for an appointment for a phone consultation with a psychologist and you will be given several options.

For the other crisis centers in various countries in Europe, click here.

South Africa – For the LGBT Community: call The Triangle Project (021) 712 6699 daily from 13:00 to 21:00 or call OUT at 0860 688 688, the line is available from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 16:30.

For other Adam4Adam members and readers from other parts of the world not mentioned above, you may click this, this, and this.

Lastly, have you, or a family member or a friend ever been in crisis before? How did you guys cope with it? Share with us your thoughts and stories in the comments section below.