Suicide Prevention
Help Is Available. You Are Not Alone.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, get help IMMEDIATELY.
- Call 9-1-1
- Go to your Local Emergency Room
- Sonoma County 24 Hour Crisis Stabilization Unit: 2225 Challenger Way, Santa Rosa, CA 95407, (707) 565-4970
- Sonoma County Crisis Line: (707) 576-8181
- Call CAPS at 707-664-2153. If outside business hours, follow instructions to be connected to our on-call counseling service.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255 (TALK)
- North Bay Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (855) 587-6373
- TEXT: HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line
Additional Crisis Services (24/7/365)
- Personas que hablan español: Llamen a the Lifeline al 888-682-9454.
- For Teens: Call the TEEN LINE at (310) 855-4673 or text TEEN to 839863
- For Veterans: Call the Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255) and press 1.
- For LGBTQ Youth: Call The Trevor Project at (866) 488-7386 or text START to 678678.
- For Transgender and Non-Binary Individuals: Call the Trans Lifeline at (877) 565-8860.
- For Individuals who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing: Call the Lifeline at (800) 799-4889.
- For Law Enforcement Personnel: Call the COPLINE at (800) 267-5463.
- For First Responders: Call the Fire/EMS Helpline at (888) 731-FIRE (3473)
Learn More: Know The Warning Signs
The Jed Foundation: Get Help Now & Mental Health Resource Center for Young Adult Emotional Health & Wellbeing
The most important thing friends and family can do to help an individual who is depressed or suicidal is to help this person receive the appropriate treatment. Suicide can be prevented. While some suicides occur without any outward warning, most people who are suicidal do give warnings. Prevent the suicide of loved ones by learning to recognize the signs of someone at risk, taking those signs seriously and knowing how to respond to them.
Most people who are suicidal desperately want to live but are unable to find another way to cope with their thoughts or feelings. Almost all college students who die by suicide are suffering from a mental health issue, most commonly depression. Other emotional problems can increase the risk for suicide too, such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, substance abuse or eating disorders.
Identifying and treating these difficulties is especially important because someone with an untreated mental health issue may be more likely to attempt suicide in the wake of a stressful event such as a death, relationship difficulties or a failed exam.
The most effective way to prevent suicide is to know the warning signs, take those signs seriously, and respond appropriately. People who are suicidal can be helped with the proper treatment. Common warning signs of suicide include:
- Hopelessness
- Rage, uncontrolled anger, or seeking revenge
- Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
- Feeling trapped - like there's no way out
- Increased alcohol or drug use
- Withdrawing from friends, family and society
- Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
- Dramatic mood changes
- Expressing no reason for living or no sense of purpose in life
- Making a plan: Giving away prized possessions. Writing goodbye letters to friends and family. Sudden or impulsive purchase of a firearm. Obtaining other means of killing oneself such as poisons or medications