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Suicide is not so much about death as it is about stopping unbearable psychological pain - a pain that for far too many people goes unrecognized and untreated.
If you had a broken leg or suspected illnesses such as diabetes or heart problems, you would certainly seek medical care.
Illnesses such as depression, unresolved grief, and other mental health illnesses can become debilitating and even life threatening. They can become a medical crisis.
When faced with life’s stressors and major life events, we can be overwhelmed if we don’t have support or lack the life skills to cope with such change.
Further complicated by either a predisposition or history of brain disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder, such seemingly innocuous events can catapult us into a major emotional and medical crisis.
For some, it is hard to talk about emotional pain. Talking about our feelings can be scary or embarrassing. Telling another person we are having thoughts of suicide can be even more terrifying.
Our first inclination is to keep these things secret. Keeping such feelings and thoughts a secret, however, is oftentimes the result of our own and other people’s stigma about mental health problems. Stigma can keep us from getting the help we need. Never keep how you feel a secret, especially in a crisis.
Oftentimes it’s hard to think just how to resolve such overwhelming problems.
Depression and other mental health disorders can make you feel confused and you can have difficulty concentrating. You might feel so tired or fatigued that you have neither the interest nor strength to reach out for help.
You may feel like no one can possibly help you. You can feel like things will never change. You can feel hopeless. You can feel like life is no longer worth living.
STOP. If this happens to you, reach out to someone for help.
You may have a medical illness that needs immediate attention.
No matter who you are, none of us can handle such medical crises alone. We need to reach out for help. Here are some tips to keep you safe and get the help you need...
Remember: Asking for help is power.
Asking for help empowers each of us to begin solving seemingly unsolvable problems Asking for help leads to hope. Hope nurtures healing and recovery.
Safety Plan
We all take action to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Most often we plan for emergencies in advance. We know who to turn to and where to go in a medical emergency.
Many of us have smoke detectors in our home; we safeguard our children from poisonous household cleaners; we talk to our children about the dangers of alcohol and drugs and unwanted sexual advances. We should be similarly prepared in the event of an emotional first aid crisis.
In the event of any kind of crisis, thinking beforehand how we will respond and who we would turn to for help can lessen the anxiety and confusion when the crisis does occur.
• Think about the people you trust and would want to turn to in the event you experience an emotional crisis. Discuss this with members of your family.
• Families should openly talk about what they can do in an emotional crisis and especially that it is ok to talk about how they are feeling.
• Keep the telephone numbers of crisis lines, teen lines, and elder help lines on your refrigerator.
• Lean how to recognize someone in emotional crisis and how you would help.
|  | Who to turn to in a crisis
If someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or talking about suicide, always take them seriously. Get help immediately and never leave the person alone.
* In an emergency, call 911
* the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
* Call Samaritans statewide at 877-870-HOPE
• Call a Suicide Prevention Crisis Line www.suicidehotlines.com
• Talk to your primary care physician or nurse
• Call your local mental health center or your HMO mental health clinic
• Talk to a trusted adult
• Talk to a member of the clergy or your spiritual advisor
• Talk to your athletic coach
• Talk to your drama teacher or advisor
• Talk to your dance teacher or instructor
• Talk to an Employee Assistance Program counselor at work
Boston
Samaritans, Inc.
141 Tremont Street, 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
http://www.samaritanshope.org
Crisis Phones:
(617) 247-0220 adult
(800) 252-8336 MA & NH teens only
24 hrs x 7 days
Boston Emergency Services Team (BEST)
85 E. Newton Street
Boston, MA 02118
http://www2.massgeneral.org/allpsych/aps/best.asp
Crisis Phone:
800-981-HELP
24 hrs x 7 days
Brockton
BAMSI Helpline
10 Christy’s Drive
Brockton, MA 02301
http://www.bamsi.org/services/helpline.html
Helplines:
866-621-4747
508-584-4357
8:30-5:00 M-F
Fall River
Samaritans of Fall River & New Bedford
P.O. Box 1333
Westport, MA 02790
http://www.samaritans-fallriver.org/
Crisis Phones:
508-673-3777
8am-11pm x 7 days
Falmouth
The Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands, Inc
P.O. Box 65
Falmouth, MA 02541
http://www.capesamaritans.org
Crisis Phones:
800-893-9900 Cape Cod & the Islands only
508-548-8900
24 hrs x 7 days
Framingham
Samaritans, Inc.
235 Walnut Street
Framingham, MA 01702
http://www.samaritanshope.org
Crisis Phones:
508-875-4500
24 hrs x 7 days
Greenfield
Clinical & Support Options, Inc.
Emergency and Crisis Stabilization Services
140-144 High Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
http://www.csoinc.org/index.htm
Crisis Phones:
800-562-0112
413-774-5411
24 hrs x 7 days
Haverhill
N. Essex Mental Health Center
Crisis Service & Central Intake
60 Merrimack St.
Haverhill, MA 01830
Crisis Phones:
800-281-3223
978-521-7777
24 hrs x 7 days
Merrimack Valley
Samaritans of Merrimack Valley
A program of Family Service, Inc.
430 North Canal Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
http://www.familyserviceinc.com/Samaritans
Crisis Help Lines:
1-866-912-4673 and 978-327-6607
Teen Crisis Help Line: 978-688-TEEN (8336)
24 hrs x 7 days
Northampton
Service Net
Emergency Service Northampton
129 King St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Crisis Phones:
413-586-5555
800-322-0424 In-state only
24 hrs x 7 days
Norwood
Riverside Community Care
190 Lenox St.
Norwood, MA 02062
http://www.riversidecc.org
Crisis Phones:
781-769-8674
800-529-5077
24 hrs x 7 days
Greater Springfield, Holyoke & Chicopee
BHN Crisis Services
417 Liberty Street
Springfield, MA 01104
http://www.bhninc.org/bhn-crisis-services.html
Crisis Phones:
413-733-6661
413-536-2251
24 hrs x 7 days
Westfield
Westfield Crisis Team - The Carson Center for Human Services
77 Mill Street
Westfield, MA 01085
http://www.carsoncenter.org/programs
Crisis Phone:
413-568-6386
24 hrs x 7 days |
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24-Hour Befriending Service
The Samaritans operate 5 chapters in Massachusetts providing a free and confidential 24-hour phone befriending line. This unique service, staffed by trained volunteers, provides unconditional and non-judgmental support to those who are alone or isolated, depressed or in crisis.
Whatever the struggle, anyone who is needs to talk can find at The Samaritans a caring, empathetic ear, eager to listen and understand. Call 877-870-HOPE (4673)
Samariteens
Samariteens is dedicated to assisting teens in despair. This help line, 800-252-TEEN (8336), is free, confidential and staffed by trained compassionate and supportive teenage volunteers.
Emergency Call 911
If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or thoughts of suicide and how you might do it, get help immediately. Don’t delay!
Caution
• If your emotional pain lingers for more than 2 weeks or you find you no longer get pleasure from your usual activities or abruptly stop them...
• If you find yourself crying for no apparent reason or feel a sense of dread or anxiety...
• If you feel yourself worrying excessively or constantly agitated...
• If you experience troubles eating or sleeping...
These are signals your body and mind are sending you that a medical crisis is brewing. You need to ask for help before a crisis develops. The sooner you pay attention to these signals, get a professional evaluation, and start treatment, the quicker you can begin recovery.
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