AAS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the understanding and prevention of suicide. This site is designed as a resource for anyone concerned about suicide, including AAS members, suicide researchers, therapists, prevention specialists, Survivors of Suicide Loss, and people who are themselves in crisis. You will also find a National Directory of Support Groups for Survivors of Suicide Loss on this site at Suicidology Suicide Support Group Directory
AFSP was founded in 1987 by concerned scientists, business and community leaders, and Survivors of Suicide Loss in an effort to support the research and education needed to prevent suicide. This organization also offers educational programs and conferences for survivors, mental health professionals, physicians, and the public. This site contains a section dedicated to survivor support including a current list of support groups throughout the United States.
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community of hope for all of those in need.
The mission of NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.
This is a Blog and Website of Resources dedicated to helping survivors navigate the aftermath of a suicide loss. Jessica, Lindsay and Becky met through Catholic Charities’ Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide support group in Chicago after losing their fathers to suicide within five months of each other. Each had the desire to elevate the discussion about suicide in an attempt to give a voice to those seeking support and encouragement.
The mission of SAVE is to educate about suicide and to speak for suicide survivors.
Provides technical assistance, training, and materials to increase the knowledge and expertise of suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide. Also promotes collaboration among a variety of organizations that play a role in developing the field of suicide prevention.
Sharing of information and striving to end the stigma associated with mental illness. We offer a Helpline, support groups, educational meetings, newsletters, a lending library and a number of classes on mental illness held at various locations throughout San Diego County.
You Matter to Me, is a life-changing and lifesaving not for profit organization that provides quality hope, support, encouragement, education and resources to individuals struggling with depression, mental health challenges, thoughts of suicide as well as those who’ve attempted suicide, in addition to supporting their family and friends.
Compassionate Friends is an international self-help support organization that offers friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. There is no religious affiliation and there are no membership dues or fees. The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive.
The Light For Life International is dedicated to saving lives through the use of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program to eliminate youth suicide. This very informative site was lovingly founded by survivor parents in memory of their son, Mike Emme.
This free drop-in group in Carlsbad is for bereaved parents who have had a child of any age die from any cause. The meeting is at The Elizabeth Hospice, located at 5938 Priestly Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays every month from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. For more information about The Center for Compassionate Care, please call (760) 796-3724
Friends For Survival, Inc. is an organization of people who have been affected by a death caused by suicide. We are dedicated to providing a variety of peer support services that comfort those in grief, encourage healing and growth, foster the development of skills to cope with a loss and educate the entire community regarding the impact of suicide.
This project is designed to reach out to all bereaved dads and to provide a conduit to share their stories. One of my goals is to bring awareness to the impact that child loss has on fathers and to let society know that it’s okay for a father to grieve the loss of a child. A father shouldn’t have to hide his pain or feel ashamed to show his emotions.
VA Medical Center, La Jolla, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive La Jolla, CA 92161.
The first Wednesday of the month throughout the year from 5-6:30 pm.
Rock Church
2277 Rosecrans Street Room 212
San Diego, CA 92106
1st and 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Contact Michele Madden, Facilitator at aftershock@sdrock.com
North Coast Church, Vista, Tower 6
2405 N. Santa Fe Avenue
Vista, CA 92084
1st Thursday each month 7:30 to 9 pm
Contact Amy D’Arcy Bush, Facilitator at darcy3@sbcglobal.net
To find a suicide helpline outside the U.S. Site down intermittently. Check back.
The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) provides information and resources to reduce the suicide rate and minimize the harmful consequences of suicidal behaviour.
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is dedicated to preventing suicidal behavior, alleviating its effects, and providing a forum for academics, mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers and suicide survivors.
GriefNet.org is an Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss.
Suicide Prevention.
How to help someone who is suicidal.
From time to time you may encounter a person who is expressing thoughts of suicide on your social media sites. What you can do to help someone else online
Provides technical assistance, training, and materials to increase the knowledge and expertise of suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide. Also promotes collaboration among a variety of organizations that play a role in developing the field of suicide prevention.
How do you remember the Warning Signs of Suicide?
Here’s an Easy-to-Remember Mnemonic:
IS PATH WARM?
I – Ideation
S – Substance Abuse
P – Purposelessness
A – Anxiety
T – Trapped
H – Hopelessness
W -Withdrawal
A – Anger
R – Recklessness
M – Mood Changes
A person in acute risk for suicidal behavior most often will show:
These might be remembered as expressed or communicated Ideation. If observed, seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or calling 1-800-237- TALK (8255) for a referral.
These might be remembered as expressed or communicated Ideation. If observed, seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or calling 1-800-237- TALK (8255) for a referral.
These warning signs were compiled by a task force of expert clinical researchers and ‘translated’ for the general public.
Here are some ways to be helpful to someone who is threatening suicide:
Many people at some time in their lives think about completing suicide. Most decide to live because they eventually come to realize that the crisis is temporary and death is permanent. On the other hand, people having a crisis sometimes perceive their dilemma as inescapable and feel an utter loss of control. These are some of the feelings and thoughts they experience:
If you experience these feelings, get help!
If someone you know exhibits these symptoms, offer help!
A combination of individual, relational, community and societal factors contribute to the risk of suicide. Risk factors are those characteristics associated with suicide – they may or may not be direct causes.
Risk Factors
Protective factors buffer individuals from suicidal thoughts and behavior. To date, protective factors have not been studied as extensively or rigorously as risk factors. Identifying and understanding protective factors are, however, equally as important as researching risk factors.
Protective Factors
(U.S. Public Health Service 1999)
From CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/riskprotectivefactors.html
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