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Suicide Prevention in and Around New Haven
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, help is available. Counselors with the 211 Mental Health Crisis Team are available to provide support and an open ear 24/7.
This service is free and confidential. 211 is funded by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.
Click the image to access services from 2-1-1
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also offers services to talk to a counselor. If you need to talk to someone, please call 988.
If someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911
Why is Suicide Prevention Important?
Suicide is a public health problem that affects individuals of every age, sex, race, ethnicity, economic background, culture, and gender identity. The effects of suicide can have lasting impacts on individuals, families, and the communities at large. Suicide rates among minorities have climbed within the last year, according to a 2023 report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In New Haven, the same holds true. In 2021, suicide was reported as the ninth leading cause of death in the United States for persons ages 10-64.
A common misperception is that talk of suicide can induce suicide ideation. The fact, however, is that talking about suicide in a culturally aware manner can actually reduce suicidal ideation (Dazzi et al., 2014). In this guide, we provide a comprehensive list of resources, an overview of the data that inform suicide prevention, and basic information on how to identify and help an individual who may be in crisis.
Additional Suicide Prevention & Crisis Hotlines
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○Call 1-866-488-7386 to reach a crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline specifically for LGBTQIA+ young people. This service is available 24/7. ○Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor 24/7. Spanish-language speakers can text AYUDA to 741741. ●National Domestic Violence Hotline ○Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) to reach a trained expert advocate and receive free, confidential support for anyone experiencing domestic violence or seeking resources and information. Help is available in Spanish and other languages. This service is available 24/7. ●National Sexual Assault Hotline ○Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area that connect you with a range of free services. ○Trans Lifeline offers a peer support phone service run by trans people for their trans and questioning peers. All peer operators are trans/non-binary and are available to offer an open ear. The service promises full anonymity and confidentiality and no non-consensual active rescue. Call (877) 565-8860. ○Call 1-800-258-1528. This warmline serves people who need a listening ear – all calls are confidential and recovery-oriented. This service is staffed by trained Peer Support Counselors and is available 5 – 10 PM every night including weekends and holidays. ●Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line ○The Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line (or 'warmline') is a private phone line that individuals may call to get support, learn about resources, connect to others who have had similar experiences, or simply talk. The warmline is operated by trained peer supporters. When you call, no personal information is collected. Call (888) 407-4515. ●CT Council on Problem Gambling Helpline ○Call or text 1-888-789-7777 to speak with a trained helpline specialist. Helpline specialists are available to provide support, resources, and referrals to treatment and self-help groups for those struggling with gambling-related problems and others impacted by another's gambling behavior. This service is available for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is confidential. ●CT Legal Services' Immigrant Legal Advice Hotline ○CT Legal Services protects the legal rights of low-income individuals and families through representation, systemic advocacy, advice, collaboration, and education. Call the CLS hotline at 1-800-453-3320. ○BlackLine provides hope and promotes social justice for individuals and communities who are experiencing a crisis. The 24-hour hotline provides a space for Black, Black LGBTQI, Brown, Native, and Muslim communities. Call 1-800-604-5841 for support. Suicide is preventable. Knowing the signs, how to talk with individuals who are having suicidal thoughts, and where to refer them for more resources can help save a life. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, creating or updating a suicide safety plan can be beneficial. A suicide safety plan will provide you with the necessary steps you can follow and contact information of individuals to ensure that you feel safe and supported at a time when you are in distress or may be considering self-harm. (Source: adapted from Moscardini, E. H., Hill, R. M., Dodd, C. G., Do, C., Kaplow, J. B., & Tucker, R. P. (2020). Suicide Safety Planning: Clinician Training, Comfort, and Safety Plan Utilization. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6444. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186444) |
Know the Signs
Knowing just some of the warning signs for suicide can help you prevent many attempts. Warning signs, however, can vary from person to person and this list is not exhaustive. The risk of suicide is greater if such a behavior is new, has increased, or seems to be in response to a recent change, loss, or traumatizing event.
●Feelings of hopelessness or having no reason to live
●Talking about wanting to die, no longer be alive, or taking one’s own life
●Giving away possessions
●Increasing alcohol or drug use
●Sleeping too little or too much
●Thinking about ways to kill themselves, such as purchasing a gun, collecting large amounts of controlled substances, or searching online.
●Withdrawing or isolating from friends and family
●Demonstrating dramatic changes in mood.
*Adapted from Connecticut Regional Suicide Advisory Board & The National Institute of Mental Health Resource Center,
Postvention: Supporting Communities After a Loss
While suicide prevention and intervention efforts are important parts of the picture, so too are postvention efforts. A suicide can be devastating for a community, as well as the individuals directly related to the individual. Suicide postvention efforts provide bereaved survivors, community members, teachers, health care providers, and caregivers with the proper tools to grieve while simultaneously acting as a secondary prevention mechanism.
Postvention planning should occur prior to suicide such that, in the event of a suicide, community stakeholders are aware of the actions that need to be taken to support the grieving community. Postvention efforts may include, but are not limited to the following:
●Awareness of the cultural differences communities and individuals have regarding suicide.
●Normalization of anger and minimization of self-blame.
●Keeping information about the suicide confidential.
●Identifying members who may be at risk for suicide and ensuring that they have been referred to care.
Postvention Resources & Research:
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○The Connect postvention training provides professionals with the tools to coordinate a comprehensive suicide response, mindfully discuss and report on a suicide death, and promote the healing of community members through effective communication. ●Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Handbook ○Written by Jeffrey Jackson, a survivor of suicide, the SOS Handbook provides guidance on how to navigate the stages of grief, seeking support, the "why?" question, and the common emotions and experiences that come with suicide. ○The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has created a search engine to help loss survivors find a suicide bereavement support group nearby. ●Guidelines for Suicide Messaging ○The way that a suicide death is communicated can have an impact on the response that communities have. The National Alliance for Suicide Prevention has put together multiple guides that outline best practices for reporting on and talking about suicide. ●After A Suicide: Toolkit for Schools ○This guide provides information for educators and school administrators on best practices for communicating with and supporting a school community following a crisis. The guide also provides information on how to communicate with parents. ○The Brian Dagle Foundation provides grief support groups and counseling for individuals who have recently lost a loved one. |
Community Clinics & Programs
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●Elm City COMPASS (Compassionate Allies Serving our Streets) ○The COMPASS crisis response team complements and supports the work of New Haven first responders to 911 calls and through outreach. The team consists of a social worker and a peer with lived experience. Access to COMPASS is through 911 dispatch or through mobile outreach by the COMPASS crisis response team. When accessed through 911 dispatch, COMPASS is as an additional resource to New Haven Police or New Haven Fire first responders. ●CT Mental Health Center Mobile Crisis & Evaluation Unit ○For those experiencing a mental health or trauma-related crisis, the Connecticut Mental Health Center's (CMHC) Mobile Crisis Intervention and Evaluation Unit provides evaluation and referral services. CMHC's Mobile Crisis and Evaluation Unit is committed to providing all individuals who seek care with services, independent of race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. ●Alternatives to Suicide (Alt2Su) ○Alternatives to Suicide (Alt2Su) takes a different approach to suicide prevention and community advocacy. Alt2Su fosters an environment where individuals can talk openly about their suicidal experiences as a way of preventing suicide attempts. The organization hosts support groups and trainings and provides access to additional resources. ●Fair Haven Community Health Center ○Fair Haven Community Health Center provides behavioral health care for patients of all ages. Clinicians are experienced in treating individuals with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Interpretive services are available for non-English speaking clients. ●HAVEN Free Clinic, Behavioral Health Department ○HAVEN Free Clinic's Behavioral Health department seeks to raise awareness about, de-stigmatize, and help patients manage challenging behavioral health issues. Services are available to New Haven residents between the ages of 18 and 65 who do not have health insurance. ○Integrated Wellness Group provides individual, family, couples, and group therapy for individuals who have experienced or are experiencing racial trauma, depression/anxiety, grief and loss, early childhood challenges, attention problems, or family conflict. IWG's main focus is to heal and empower individuals such as to create health equity for communities of color. ○Join Rise Be (JRB) is a Connecticut-based peer-run initiative for young people experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. JRB hosts statewide youth and young adult advisory board meetings, a Discord server for young people to connect, and a podcast series for members to share experiences and raise awareness for mental health. |
Get Involved with Suicide Prevention
| Raise awareness about suicide prevention at work, at school, or in your community
●Connecticut Regional Suicide Advisory Board, South Central ○Sponsored by the Alliance for Prevention & Wellness / A Program of BHCare ●New Haven Prevention Council ○Youth group intended to increase the engagement of youth in health-related activities and promote their access to positive resources within the community and their schools. ●American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Connecticut Chapter ○AFSP works to develop effective prevention programs and educate the public about risk factors and warning signs for suicide within the State of Connecticut. ●National Alliance for Mental Health Connecticut ○Suicide Prevention Program Training Opportunities ○MHFA teaches individuals how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. The 8-hour course covers the following: ○Common signs and symptoms of substance use and mental illness ○How to interact with and help a person in crisis ○How to refer someone to resources ○How to administer naloxone in the event of an opioid overdose. ●Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Training Program ○Like CPR, QPR can be used in an emergency mental health situation and can save lives. The 90-minute training prepares and informs individuals on: ○The warning signs of suicide ○How to direct someone in crisis to help ○How to help prevent suicide in communities ○How to Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) someone who may be suicidal. ●Overdose Prevention & Response Training ○Naloxone saves lives! Attend an Overdose Prevention and Response Training to learn about: ○State and local substance use patterns ○The truths, myths, and testing for Xylazine, an emerging substance ○Harm reduction principles ○How to identify, respond to, and prevent an opioid overdose ○Where to access Naloxone (Narcan) and fentanyl test strips |
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