[…] preferences for veterans and the need to eliminate stigma from seeking help for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other conditions. The full hearing can be watched here. Suicide prevention was a particular concern. Approximately 8,000 veterans die each year from suicide. Lt. Col. Kenny Allred, U.S. Army (Ret.), chair of NAMI’s Veterans and Military Council […]
[…] would have lived my life; that future place would be easier. With the recent report release by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) covering the increase in suicide deaths, there has been an increase in media coverage on suicide prevention. ABC News chief medical correspondent, Doctor Jennifer Ashton, shared on “Good Morning America” her personal experience when […]
[…] hopelessness — are familiar to many who've experienced suicidal thoughts. But hearing her share so openly the mental anguish she experienced is meaningful to people who've contemplated suicide, said Dr. Ken Duckworth, NAMI CMO. Meghan's admission opens the floor to viewers who've had suicidal thoughts to discuss those feelings with people they trust or […]
A rising number of young Americans, including children, are taking their own lives using firearms, a new study finds. Researchers found that between 2008 and 2018, gun suicides showed an "alarming" increase among Americans aged 5 to 24. The rate among kids under 15 quadrupled during the study period. The study looked specifically at […]
Reports that suicide rates are up 30 percent in the U.S., yet funding lags behind that of all other top causes of death, leaving suicide research in its "infancy."
I started volunteering for a suicide prevention hotline in June 2020. It had become clear that COVID-19 wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and I decided I needed a helpful distraction — or my mental health might deteriorate more, faster. Maybe it sounds counterintuitive, but I’ve always found it easier to care for others than […]
On February 17, 2020, I was at a crossroads, deciding whether I wanted to live or die. After contemplating suicide for two days, it seemed like that was the only answer. I had battled depression for years, but I never told anyone how I was feeling. I was raised to believe that discussing mental […]
[…] through it alone. When in doubt, reach out. Ask the difficult questions. Follow-up and follow-through. If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text NAMI to 741-741. Kevin Connors, MS, MFT is Senior Vice President at the Hecht Trauma Institute creating trainings […]
Yesterday, Congress passed S. 2661, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, which will head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
[…] the FCC will start their process of improving 988 by routing calls based on callers' physical location rather than their phone number's area code. Since the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline became available nationwide in 2022, more than 8.6 million people in crisis have been able to connect with support for mental health, substance […]
NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).
