Download - New York State Office of Mental Health

Saving Lives in New York Volume 2: Approaches and Special Populations
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Mental Health Association of New York City
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD)
Columbia University in the City of New York
Rutgers University Center for Mental Health Services
Center for Mental Health Services
(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
On January 1, 2005, the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline came into existence. It
is a national, 24-hour, 7-day a week, tollfree
suicide prevention service available to
all those in suicidal crisis who are seeking
help. Individuals seeking help can dial 1-
800-273-TALK (8255). Callers to the Lifeline
will receive suicide prevention counseling
from staff at the closest available certified
crisis center in the network. It is administered
through the Mental Health Association
of New York City, an organization with
experience in crisis, information, and referral
help management. More than 109 crisis
centers in 42 states currently participate in
the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
In New York State, the list of participating
crisis centers includes:
• Long Island Crisis Center (Bellmore)
• Crisis Services (Buffalo)
• Covenant House Nineline (New York
City)
• HELPLINE/Jewish Board of Family and
Children’s Services (NYC)
• Life Line: A Program of DePaul
(Rochester)
Approximately 30,000 lives are lost to suicide
each year in the United States. About
1,300 lives (or 1 in 25 deaths by suicide
nationally) are lost in New York annually.
“The purpose and promise of this national
suicide hotline is to be there for people in
their time of need,” said Lifeline Director,
Dr. John Draper “Working with our federal,
state and local partners, we will be able to
build on our strength and expand this
national hotline to reach suffering individuals
in ways that each of us could not do
alone.”
“For many people, crisis hotlines serve as
an entry point into the mental health system,”
said Dr. Robert Glover, Executive
Director of NASMHPD. “By expanding the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline into
underserved regions and by linking crisis
centers to a national database of mental
health resources, we can get people the
help they need and reduce suicide in this
country.”
• LifeNet (New York City)
• Dutchess County Department of Mental
Hygiene/HELPLINE
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 25