Advisory 

SAMHSA Announces New Suicide Hotline

In the United States, suicide currently is the 11^th leading cause of death among all age groups, accounting for approximately 30,000 deaths annually. More than 109 crisis centers in 42 states currently participate in the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  SAMHSA is committed to working with state and local organizations, such as the Mental Health Association of New York City, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, and community crisis centers, to expand the availability of suicide prevention and intervention services.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is funded by a 3-year $6.6 million grant from SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services, which has been awarded to the Mental Health Association of New York City and its partners—the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, Columbia University and Rutgers University.  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a network of local crisis centers located in communities across the country that are committed to suicide prevention. Callers to the hotline will receive suicide prevention counseling from trained staff at the closest certified crisis center in the network.  A nation-wide public education campaign to raise awareness about suicide and the national hotline is under development.

SAMHSA, a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment and mental health services in the United States.

This page was last updated on 30 December, 2004
SAMHSA is An Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Service