If someone expresses suicidal wishes/tendencies, what are resources that you could provide to the customer to help them?

Although rare, sometimes librarians do get calls from people with suicidal tendencies. We should always treat each call seriously and give the person resources where they can get the help they need. The following resources are reliable, and are good ones to keep at hand for use in such situations:

• 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
• 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
• TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889)

Suicide Prevention Lines

The biggest suicide prevention centers in the US are the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Both of these suicide prevention centers have suicide prevention hotlines. These suicide prevention hotlines are: 1-800-27-TALK and 1-800-SUICIDE. You may call these suicide prevention numbers from anywhere in the United States, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Concerned people are waiting to help.

If you are you feeling desperate, alone or hopeless? Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you.

Callers to 1-800-SUICIDE reach an AAS-certified suicide crisis center whose staff is highly trained in de-escalating crises and in performing appropriate interventions, particularly if a suicide seems imminent. Crisis centers maintain resource lists for human resources and services in their areas of operation which enables them to refer callers to mental health treatment and other services as appropriate.

Maryland Suicide & Crisis Hotlines website has a listing of suicide hotlines numbers from the State of Maryland. Broken down into Maryland counties, it also includes a few websites with additional information and resources for people who may need or may know someone who could use help.

The American Association of Suicidology has a list of local AAS-Accredited Crisis Centers for the State of Maryland and across the United States. Also includes additional information for people thinking suicide or people who want to help. Additional information includes Education and training, statistics, research and support groups.