Crisis Lines
Georgia Crisis and Access Line – Georgia offers a statewide toll-free call center for consumers to access services. The call center operates 24/7 and has the capacity to screen and assess callers for intensity of service response. Individuals in need of services should contact the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-800-715-4225. This resource can also be accessed via the MyGCAL app for Apple and Android smartphones.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide and need emotional support or resources, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is accessible by calling or texting 988 or chatting at 988Lifeline.org. They provide 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones and best practices for professionals.
Crisis Text Line – Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support and information via a medium people already use and trust: text. Text HOME to 741741 and a live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from a secure online platform. The goal of any conversation is to get individuals in need to a calm, safe place.
The Trevor Project – A national 24-hour, toll-free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. Individuals in need of immediate support can call the TrevorLifeline at 1-866-488-7386 or go online and select TrevorChat to connect with a counselor.
Disaster Distress Helpline – SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters, including public health emergencies. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
National Sexual Assault Hotline – RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available by calling 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chatting at online.rainn.org.
Mosaic Georgia – Mosaic Georgia provides crisis intervention and advocacy services for victims and secondary victims by offering support during and after case management, during acute and delayed medical exams and by connecting victims with needed assistance, resources and next steps. Individuals in need of support can call their 24/7 crisis line at 866-900-6019.
Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Initiatives
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. AFSP Georgia offers state-specific resources, programs and local events.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center – The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) is the only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the implementation of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Their website contains helpful information about suicide (scope of the problem, warning signs, risk and protective factors), effective prevention tools, resources and training opportunities.
Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide – The mission of the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide is to reduce the number of youth suicides and attempted suicides by encouraging public awareness through the development and promotion of educational training programs. Their website contains numerous resources for teens, parents and educators.
Stamp Out Stigma – Stamp Out Stigma is an initiative spearheaded by the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and substance use disorders. This campaign challenges each of us to transform the dialogue on mental health and addiction from a whisper to a conversation.
Mental Health America of Georgia – Mental Health America of Georgia is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with mental health challenges as well as promoting mental wellness throughout Georgia. MHA of Georgia’s mission is to enhance the mental health of all Georgians through education, outreach and advocacy.
NAMI Georgia – The mission of NAMI Georgia is to empower affiliates to create communities where all affected by mental illnesses find hope, help, and acceptance through support, education and advocacy.
American Association of Suicidology – AAS promotes the understanding and prevention of suicide and support those who have been affected by it.
Postvention
Following a death by suicide, family and friends of the suicide victim may be at increased risk of suicide themselves. Postvention services offer support for those who are grieving by engaging the individuals in a process to help them alleviate distress and cope with their loss. Additional resources for behavioral health treatment can be found here.
The Link Counseling Center’s National Resource Center for Suicide Prevention and Aftercare – Support groups and resources for suicide prevention and aftercare.
Healing Conversations – Offered by the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP), Healing Conversations provides free assistance to survivors of suicide.
GriefShare – A Christian-based website to find grief-support-bereavement for any type of loss, including suicide.
Training Opportunities
Upcoming trainings conducted or sponsored by GUIDE can be found here.
Mental Health First Aid – Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that teaches you how to help someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. The training helps you identify, understand and respond to signs of addictions and mental illnesses.
QPR Institute – QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. The QPR Online Gatekeeper Training is taught in a clear, concise format using the latest in educational technology and practices. The course takes approximately one hour to complete.
LivingWorks – LivingWorks programs are designed to span a continuum of safety skills. In as little as one hour online, LivingWorks Start can teach anyone to recognize the signs of suicide and take life-saving action by connecting someone to hope and support. LivingWorks safeTALK and ASIST trainings provide more in-depth information and are completed in-person.
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) – CALM is a free online course provided by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center to teach how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves (such as firearms and medication). It covers who needs lethal means counseling and how to work with people at risk for suicide—and their families—to reduce access. The course takes approximately 2 hours to complete.