Depression, anxiety and chemical dependency can produce serious emotional distress and get in the way of clear thinking. There is treatment for those underlying conditions. If your first attempt at treatment didn’t help, seek a different treatment.

Talking to a friend, a therapist or a hotline counselor can help you see a different outlook. Reach out if you are struggling. 

Suicide is often called a “permanent solution to a temporary problem.” You may be in the midst of a crisis, but it won’t last forever. Intense emotional pain will pass. There are solutions. 

Talking to someone can help you think about reasons to live or the people and things you value the most. Reasons for living might include family, friends, God, nature, a talent or hobby, a lifelong dream or goal.

Help is available. Find someone you trust and let them know how bad things are. Talk to a friend, therapist, clergy person or a hotline. This can be your first step on the road to healing.

Nearly everyone at some time in their life thinks about suicide. Most decide to live because they come to realize that the crisis is temporary whereas death is not. On the other hand, people during a crisis often perceive their dilemma as inescapable and feel an utter loss of control. Frequently, they:

• Can’t stop the pain.
• Can’t think clearly.
• Can’t make decisions.
• Can’t see any way out.
• Can’t sleep, eat or work.
• Can’t get out of the depression.
• Can’t make the sadness go away.
• Can’t see the possibility of change.
• Can’t see themselves as worthwhile.
• Can’t get someone’s attention.
• Can’t see how to get control.

• Friend.
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
• Contact Hotline 315-251-0600
• Community mental health agency.
• School counselor or psychologist.
• Suicide prevention/crisis intervention center.
• Private therapist.
• Family physician.
• Religious/spiritual leader.

You can call a suicide hotline for advice or information about helping a person who may be suicidal.

Get help immediately if you see or hear someone who is:

• Threatening to hurt or kill him/herself or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself.
• Looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means.
• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person.

Contact Hotline
315-251-0600

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

Get help as soon as possible if the person is showing the following signs:

• Hopelessness
• Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
• Feeling trapped – like there’s no way out
• Increased alcohol or drug use
• Withdrawing from friends, family and society
• Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
• Dramatic mood changes
• No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life

Based on information from the American Association of Suicidology, which certifies the Contact Hotline.

CALL 911 if someone is in immediate danger of harming him/herself or others.

1. Be aware. Learn the warning signs.
2. Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
3. Ask if he/she is thinking about suicide. Be direct. Talk openly and freely about suicide.
4. Be willing to listen. Allow for expression of feelings. Accept the feelings.
5. Do not judge. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or feelings are good or bad. Don’t lecture on the value of life.
6. Don’t dare him/her to do it.
7. Don’t give advice.
8. Don’t ask ‘why.’ This encourages defensiveness.
9. Offer empathy, not sympathy.
10. Don’t act shocked. This creates distance.
11. Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support from a mental health professional or a suicide hotline.
12. Offer hope that alternatives are available, but do not offer glib reassurance; it only proves that you don’t understand.
13. Take action! Remove means! Get help from individuals or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

Learn listening and suicide prevention skills:

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) 

Contact Hotline Volunteer

Most suicidal individuals desperately want to live; they are just unable to see alternatives to their problems.

Most suicidal individuals give definite warnings of their suicidal intentions, but others are either unaware of the significance of these warnings or do not know how to respond to them.

Talking about suicide does not cause someone to be suicidal.

Surviving family members not only suffer the trauma of losing a loved one to suicide, they also may be at higher risk for suicide and emotional problems.

In 2017, 47,173 Americans died by suicide. The number of suicide attempts is much greater and often results in serious injury.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24, and it is the tenth leading cause of death among all persons.

Youth (15-24) suicide rates increased more than 200% from the 1950’s to the late 1970’s. Following the late 1970’s, the rates for youth suicide have remained stable.

The suicide rate is higher among the elderly (over 65) than any other age group.

Four times as many men kill themselves as compared to women, yet three times as many women attempt suicide as compared to men.

Suicide occurs across all age, economic, social, and ethnic boundaries.

Firearms are currently the most utilized methods of suicide by essentially all groups (male, female, young, old, white, non-white).