How To Get Immediate Help, Dealing with Trauma, Resources for Vets, Medications, and the FDA.
Also consider these options if you’re having suicidal thoughts:
- Call your mental health specialist.
- Call a suicide hotline number — in the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
- Veterans – Use that same number and press “1” to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
- Seek help from your primary doctor or other health care provider.
- Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
- Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone else in your faith community.
If a loved one or friend is in danger of attempting suicide or has made an attempt:
- Make sure someone stays with that person
- Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately
- Or, if you can do so safely, take the person to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Paying for Mental Health Care
If you are not insured, look into:
- Community-based mental health center CMHCs) – sliding scale basis
- Pastoral counseling – sliding scale basis
- Self-help groups – generally free
- Public assistance programs for mental health care costs – disability insurance or supplemental security income, Medicare, Medicaid
For more information about how to pay for mental health care, contact the National Mental Health Information Center.
EXTERNAL RESOURCES
Center for Disease Control
www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth
Phone: 1-800-232-4636
Food and Drug Administration
www.fda.gov
Phone: 1-888-463-6332
Freedom from Fear
www.freedomfromfear.org
Phone: 1-718-351-1717
Gift from Within
www.giftfromwithin.org
Phone: 1-207-236-8858
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
www.istss.org
Phone: 1-847-480-9028
US National Library of Medicine
www.medlineplus.gov
Phone: 1-301-402-8878
National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
www.ptsd.va.gov
Phone: 1-802-296-5132
National Institute of Mental Health
www.nimh.nih.gov
Phone: 1-866-615-6464
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Phone: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
National Center for Victims of Crime
www.victimsofcrime.org
Phone: 1-202-467-8700
Screening for Mental Health (For Military)
screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/Military_NDSD
Phone: 1-781-239-0071
The Sidran Traumatic Stress Institute
www.sidran.org
Phone: 1-410-825-8888
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
www.samhsa.gov/veterans-military-families
Phone: 1-800-789-2647
Smart Recovery
www.smartrecovery.org
Phone: 1-866-951-5357
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
www.save.org
Phone: 1-800-273-8255
Veterans Crisis Line
www.veteranscrisisline.net
Phone: 1-800-273-8255
Veterans Health Administration
www.va.gov/health
Phone: 1-877-222-VETS (8387)
Nursing Home Abuse Justice
www.nursinghomeabuse.org/nursing-home-neglect/
Phone: 1-800-484-0316