September is World Suicide Prevention Month and is a good time to remind ourselves that our words, actions, and support can truly make a difference in the lives of those who are facing the darkness of mental health challenges. We must acknowledge the pain that some individuals are silently enduring and let them know they are not alone. It's also a good time to share national and local resources in place to help those in crisis.
Mental Health Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately. Uncomfortable on the phone? You can chat the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org. Know you are not alone. There is help available, and there are people who care deeply about your well-being. The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States.
Along with the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Greater New Orleans area has resources for finding help for you or someone you know who is experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide. Some of those options include:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness New Orleans (NAMI): https://namineworleans.org/
- Metropolitan Human Services District: 24-HOUR CRISIS LINE: (504) 826-2675; https://www.mhsdla.org/services/do-you-qualify/
- VIA LINK provides information, referrals, training, and crisis intervention to people, organizations, and communities so they can help themselves and others. VIA LINK can be reached by dialing 211. vialink.org
- CrescentCare is a local leader in harm reduction, and provides a wide array of services, including those addressing behavioral health challenges. (504) 821-2601; https://www.crescentcare.org/
- Odyssey House Louisiana (OHL) is a non-profit behavioral health care provider with an emphasis on addiction treatment. For medically supported detox, call (504) 821-9211. For inpatient rehab treatment, call (504) 821-9211 (extension 7618 & 7619); https://www.ohlinc.org/
- Ochsner Health Psychiatry and Mental Health Services https://www.ochsner.org/services/psychiatry-mental-health-services
- The Behavorial Health Center at Children's Hospital New Orleans https://www.chnola.org/services/behavioral-health/
- New Orleans Community Resource Guide https://www.imaginewaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-MAY-RG-for-view.pdf
 Infographic by NAMI |
Find warning signs and risk factors of suicide, what you need to know about youth suicide, crisis resources, and more on NAMI.org.
Offer kindness, empathy, and support
During this World Suicide Prevention Month, let's be a beacon of hope for those in need. Our willingness to offer unwavering support, paired with our capacity to listen without judgment, can alter the trajectory of someone's life. Together, we can work towards creating a community where mental health is openly discussed, where struggles are met with compassion, and where every individual knows that they matter.
Let's unite in kindness, empathy, and solidarity. Let's light up the darkness with love and understanding. Remember, there's always hope – and there's always help.
