The Contact Hotline is a regional suicide and crisis counseling line. Suicide-related calls come from people who:

• are considering suicide
• have survived suicide attempt(s)
• are concerned about another person considering suicide
• are dealing with the loss of someone through suicide

Suicide attempts and completion are acts of communication of anger, despair and a desire to make the pain go away. The Hotline provides an opportunity for the suicidal caller to talk to a nonjudgmental listener about his/her feelings about the situation. Our trained counselors can also help those at risk to develop a keep safe plan.

The Contact Hotline meets the highest standards for suicide hotlines. We are certified by the American Association of Suicidology. For more information, please visit: www.suicidology.org

A crisis does not have to be a major disaster. A crisis is something that causes distress, and the caller needs help coping with it over a period of hours or days or weeks. But the crisis does end. The intensity of the feelings lessens, and the caller adjusts to the event, condition or change in his/her life. It can be:

• death of a loved one, including a pet
• loss of a job
• end of a relationship
• failing a test at school

A crisis to one person may not be a crisis to another. Calling the Contact Hotline can help a person in crisis express and explore his/her intense feelings.

We also provide critical support to hundreds of callers with concerns about physical abuse, sexual abuse, or problems related to substance abuse.

Callers do not have to be in a crisis to call the Contact Hotline. They don’t even have to be upset. They can call simply because they need to talk out an issue or concern or because they are feeling alone and need to connect with another person.

People of all ages call to talk about a wide range of feelings and personal problems concerning relationships, work or school, finances, substance use, depression or anxiety, loneliness, physical conditions, and more.

If a person is very upset, talking may help. Knowing that a caring person is genuinely listening helps to ease pain, anger, fear or frustration.

Our counselors are highly trained in active listening. They help focus the caller, summarize what the caller is experiencing and explores options. They do not give advice or make judgments.

A call to the hotline can help put an issue in perspective. Our telephone counselors can help a caller reach his/her own conclusions or decisions if he/she is ready and willing.

Counselors can also make referrals to other agencies and services if a caller is open to that option.

Most calls last 10 to 15 minutes, unless it is a crisis or suicide call.

The Contact Hotline is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

Free.

In Onondaga County call 315-251-0600; in Cayuga County call 877-400-8740