Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)

Whether you're looking for support, information, advice or a referral, our trained support specialists are ready to help.

National Sexual Assault Hotline. Free. Confidential. 24/7: 800-656-HOPE (4673)

Live Chat online with a trained staff member who can provide you confidential crisis support:

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Suicide Warning Signs and How to Help

​​To provide effective mental health first aid, you must first be familiar with the warning signs of suicidal ideation. Signs that someone may be experiencing suicidal thoughts can include:

• Threats: verbally threatening to kill themselves.
• Obtaining lethal means: gaining access to firearms, dangerous drugs, poison or other means.
• Talking about death: bringing up death or suicide in conversations, writing about dying or posting on social media about suicide.
• Drastic mood swings: hopelessness, feeling trapped, rage, anger, irritability, anxiety or vengeful thoughts.
• Risky behaviors: acting recklessly or increasing drug or alcohol use.
• Uncharacteristic behaviors: sleeping too little or too much, avoiding friends and family members, giving away prized possessions and expressing goodbye sentiments to loved ones.

Verbal suicide threats are among the most serious suicide warning signs. Some people may think that if a person talks about killing themselves then they aren’t serious, but this is not true. Someone who talks about ending their life may already have a plan to do so. As a mental health first aider, take every suicide threat seriously, even if it sounds like a joke or offhand remark.

More than 70% of people tell someone they are thinking of suicide or show other suicidal warning signs before taking their own life. Always take the warning signs of suicide seriously.

If you believe you or someone else needs immediate help, call the National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255. Or, chat now at National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

The preceding information came directly from The Recovery Village website.

LGBTQ+ Support Services and Information

It Gets Better Project

The It Gets Better Project inspires people across the globe to share their stories and remind the next generation of LGBTQ+ youth that hope is out there and it will get better.

Go to www.itgetsbetter.org to watch inspiring stories shared by people just like you. Visit our Get Help page to find LGBTQ+ youth support services in your community. Or, sign our pledge to commit to a world where all LGBTQ+ are free to live equally and know their worthiness and power as individuals!

Tim Gunn’s message: http://youtu.be/9GGAgtq_rQc

Love on a Mission

Loveonamission.org is a nonprofit organization working to provide a safe place for our LGBTQ youth. Our goal is to have our own facility and to have available an emergency bed shelter for those who find themselves homeless after coming out to their families.

PO Box 2541
Mansfield, Ohio
loam.lgbt@gmail.com

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JED Foundation

6 E. 39th Street, Suite 1204
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-647-7544
www.jedfoundation.org

JED exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation's teens and young adults. The following are just some of the programs JED offers:

• Set to Go - Preparing for college is more than just academics and testing. Being emotionally ready creates the greatest opportunity for success. Here you'll find information, tools and guidance to help you thrive as you get ready to leave high school.
• Half of Us - Mental health issues are a reality for millions of people across the country. Young people are especially at risk, with half of college students reporting that they have been stressed to a point where they couldn’t function during the past year. The impact of mental illness is so devastating that suicide is the third leading cause of death among all people ages 15-24. Nearly all mental health issues can be improved with proper treatment. When we decrease the stigma around mental health and encourage help-seeking, we can change and save lives. Through Half of Us, mtvU and The Jed Foundation aim to initiate a public dialogue to raise awareness about the prevalence of mental health issues and connect students to the appropriate resources to get help.
• ULifeline - Feeling Overwhelmed? Videos may help. The Jed Foundation’s Mental Health Resource Center provides essential information about common emotional health issues and shows teens and young adults how they can support one another, overcome challenges and make a successful transition to adulthood.To explore what’s available, go to the JED Foundation's Resource Center.
• Love is Louder - Love is Louder is a community of people working together to create a world where we all feel more connected and supported. Join our email list or follow us on social media to get updates and more ways to get involved.
• Help a Friend and Self Evaluator - The Self Evaluator was developed for ULifeline by Duke University School of Medicine and screens for thirteen of the most common mental health conditions that college students face. This screening does not provide a diagnosis, but identifies problems that could be impacting thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

The Recovery Village

Adjusting to new environments and new people, along with many other aspects of student life, can increase the risk of college substance abuse. In fact, according to a study at Columbia University, almost 50 percent of full-time college students admit to binge drinking or abusing prescription drugs and almost a quarter of those students met the medical definition of having a substance abuse dependency.

At the Recovery Village, we strive to be a helpful resource by connecting those battling addiction and their families with the help they need to get their lives back on track. For more information visit the Recovery Village website or call 855-839-9806.