How to Report Suicidal Thoughts

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 34,598 lives were lost to suicide in the United States in 2007. This number of deaths led suicide to be the number 10 leading cause of death that year. Suicide can be prevented if action is taken at the first sign of suicidal tendencies or talk of self-harm.

Instructions

National Suicide Hotline

• 1

  Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) immediately if you are having suicidal thoughts.

• 2

  Tell the operator that you are having suicidal thoughts and need help.

• 3

  Follow their direction. They will ask you to talk about why you want to commit suicide. They may also direct you to a local facility to seek immediate medical attention.

Call 911

• 4

  Dial 911 and tell the operator that you (or someone close to you) are having suicidal thoughts and you need help right away to prevent it.

• 5

  Disclose your address or the location of where you are. If you are calling on behalf of another person who is contemplating suicide, give her name, address where she can be found and a contact phone number so an officer or 911 operator can attempt to make immediate contact with her.

• 6

  Follow the direction of the operator, who may direct you to a local facility or hospital to seek immediate attention.

Hospital

• 7

  Go to the nearest hospital emergency room. If you are concerned for a friend, take him to the nearest emergency room.

• 8

  Explain to the attending nurse that you (or your friend) are having suicidal thoughts and need immediate help.

• 9

  Tell the nurse and doctors the truth. Do not omit facts about you or your friend's situation.

• 10

  Accept treatment. The hospital will most likely want to admit you to its mental-health facility for observation and suicide prevention. Follow the advice provided by the hospital workers, or help them to get your friend to follow their advice.