In our discussion of bullying and language, an orb28 member asked after resources and advice for suicide prevention.

It takes courage to speak up, but you could save someone's life, so don't hesitate to speak with adults and caring professionals.

Resources and things you can do:

1. If the situation is an emergency, call 911 (or your country's emergency number - in the UK, for example, it's 999) and ask for help. Tell them you (or your friend) are in suicidal danger.

2. You can check the front of your phone book for suicide prevention hotlines and psychological services for those considering suicide and friends of those considering suicide.

Some key words you can look for are:
-suicide prevention
-crisis intervention
-hotlines - crisis or suicide
-community crisis center
-county mental health center
-hospital mental health clinic

3. Call a hotline.

2nd floor is a good one answered by trained folks with clinical supervisors on hand at all times. They are open until midnight Eastern Time (although they hope to go 24 hr soon)
http://www.2ndfloor.org/

Women's Referral Central - 24 hr.
1-800-322-8092

Youth Crisis Hotline 1-800-448-4663

4. Check out these websites for helpful information:

Suicide Foundation for Suicide Prevention
www.afsp.org

Suicide Action Network USA
www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/suicideprevention

National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
www.spanusa.org

Suicide Prevention resource Center
www.sprc.org

FAQs at the National Institutes for Mental health
www.nimh.nih.gov/SuicidePrevention/suicidefaq.cfm


Thanks so much for asking these tough questions! I had a friend who began to tell me she might commit suicide, and I wasn't sure what to do because I knew she'd be furious if I told an adult (and I was afraid she would "get in trouble"). I decided that was the right thing to do anyway even though I was scared to do it!, and of course she didn't "get in trouble" but was given the help that she needed. She later she thanked me for it. :)

Please feel free to share your honest thoughts and questions here on the orb28 blog - that's what we're here for! When girls come together and help each other out, beautiful things can happen.