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Chapter 5-B - Suicide

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Related Topics: Emergency Crisis Assistance | Counseling: Individual, Group and Family | Support Groups

Facts About Suicide

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth in Maryland. Persons who may be isolated, depressed, and or unhappy about their lives may be at risk for suicide. These feelings may make it difficult to see all of the options available. For that reason, it is important to seek professional help for someone who is talking about suicide. It does not mean the person is mentally ill. To help:

  1. If you see danger signs in someone you know, let that person know you are concerned. Be a good listener, encourage talking about feelings, be supportive, accept what is said and treat it seriously. Let the person know that you care, that you want to help, that there are alternatives to dying, and that he or she does not have to face the problems alone.
  2. Take all the danger signs seriously. If the person is thinking of suicide, ask "How would you do that?" When? Where? Do you have the pills, a gun? The more detailed and firm the plan, the greater the danger - trust your judgment - if you think the risk is there, there's a good chance you are right. Someone at risk for suicide should not be left alone, and potential weapons such as pills, guns, et cetera should never be accessible to someone who is depressed and troubled - remove them from the home.
  3. A second person should always be involved in determining what to do next. Don't try to handle suicidal concerns alone. Don't ever be tempted to keep suicidal risk a secret - you may lose a person's confidence, but you may also save a life. Remember suicidal people want desperately to be rescued. If someone has let you know how bad he or she feels, it's because you could be trusted to help. Call someone experienced in working with suicide. If you can't reach a counselor or mental health resource, talk to someone you trust such as a teacher, minister, rabbi, principal, or doctor, who can help you to get professional advice.

Resources:

Crisis Intervention

Baltimore County Crisis Response System or CRS
Mental health crisis hotline 410-931-2214 Twenty-four hours, seven days a week
Phone hotline for suicide or crisis mental health emergencies. Offers assessment and evaluation for suicide intervention and crisis intervention. Helps citizens, providers and emergency response personnel find appropriate information and resources for mental health services, general community resources and suicide or crisis prevention.

Franklin Square Hospital Center Crisis Intervention Service
443-777-8444, Twenty-four hours a day hotline
Through its Department of Psychiatry, Franklin Square Hospital Center provide twenty-four hour coverage for psychiatric and behavioral health emergencies in collaboration with their Emergency Room.

Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center Inc.
Harriet Tubman Center
6700 Freetown Road
Columbia, Maryland 21044
410-531-6677 or 1-800-422-0009 for the Maryland Crisis Hotline; TTY: 410-531-5086
Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, confidential, free hotline for those considering suicide or to families or friends who suspect someone is considering suicide.

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Maryland Crisis Hotline
1-800-422-0009
A confidential, toll-free twenty-four hour hotline for people who are considering or know of someone thinking of suicide. The Hotline works from anywhere in Maryland, providing immediate assistance from trained local crisis intervention counselors who are familiar with the available resources in the county in which the person resides. Provides help for problems such as suicide intervention, drug and alcohol abuse, physical and sexual abuse, depression, loneliness, relationship difficulties and many other issues.

Maryland Poison Center
20 North Pine Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
1-800-222-1222
Twenty-four hours, seven days a week, specially trained pharmacists and nurses offer statewide telephone consultation in cases of poisoning.

National Hopeline Network
1-800-SUICIDE  or 1 800 784-2433
Trained crisis line workers answer calls from people who are depressed or suicidal, or those who are concerned about someone else. Available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
 1-800-273-TALK or 1 800 273 8255, TTY: 1-800-799-4889
Twenty four hours, toll-free service that provides immediate assistance to individuals in suicidal crisis, a friend, or family member by automatically connecting them to the nearest available suicide prevention and mental health service provider.

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Counseling and Prevention:

Center for Grief and Loss at Stella Maris, Inc.
2300 Dulaney Valley Road
Timonium, Maryland 21093  
410-252-4500, ext. 7291
Bereavement support groups for spouse, any loved one, and children ages five to eighteen. Individual counseling offered as well.

Compassionate Friends of Maryland, Inc. and Bereaved Parents of the USA - Maryland Chapter
P O Box 625
Brooklandville, Maryland 21022
410-321-7053 24 hours a day
A self-help group which seeks to aid parents, siblings or grandparents who have experienced the death of a child.

Dundalk Youth Service Center
Dundalk Church of Brethren
2660 Yorkway
Dundalk, Maryland 21222
410-288-4356; 410-288-4357; 410-288-4358; 410-288-4359
Counseling for youth ages four to eighteen years and their families.

Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland - Woodlawn Office
 3104 Lord Baltimore Drive, Suite 206
Baltimore, Maryland 21244
Hotline: 410-828-6390; 410-281-1334
General counseling for families and individuals to solve vexing problems or to prevent issues from becoming disabling.

First Call for Help - United Way of Central Maryland
Dial 211 which is not available on cell phones or 410-685-0525 for Greater Baltimore area; 1-800-492-0618 toll free throughout Maryland; TTY: 410-685-2159 Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm for alll other hours dial Maryland Relay 711.
Statewide, twenty four hours, seven days a week, comprehensive information and referral service. Experienced staff members help callers explore their problems and connects them to the resources that can help with their situation. This service is free and confidential. Callers may remain anonymous.

First Step Youth Services Bureau
Offers suicide or crisis intervention, mental health counseling and psychiatric evaluation to young people ages 6 and older and their families in their time of need. First Step may either suggest that the adolescent and his family come in for further counseling or refer them to an appropriate health care professional.

• Cockeysville Center
  10400 Ridgeland Road, Suite 1
  Cockeysville, Maryland 21030
  410-628-6120
  For adolescents and adults
• Randallstown Center
  8303 Liberty Road
  Baltimore, Maryland 21244
  410-521-4141
  For children and adolescents
• Liberty Family Resource Center
  3525 Resource Drive, Suite C47
  Randallstown, Maryland 21133
  410-655-7655
  For adults only
• Reisterstown Center
  100 Owings Court, Suite 8
  Reisterstown, Maryland 21136
  410-526-7100 By appointment only
  For adolescents and adults

Franklin Square Hospital Center - The Counseling Center
443-777-7878
Adults age eighteen and older receive treatment through the Counseling Center on issues such as anxiety, depression, and interpersonal difficulties. Staff members work with patients individually and offer group therapy. Children age two to seventeen receive treatment addressing behavioral issues and anger. Treatment for children and their families includes play therapy, family therapy, parent guidance work, medication treatment, and psychological testing and evaluation.

Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center Inc.
Harriet Tubman Center
6700 Freetown Road
Columbia Maryland 21044
410-531-6677 Twenty-four hours a day seven days a week, Maryland Crisis Hotline 800-422-0009; TTY 410-531-5086
Twenty-four hour professional counseling staff are available to listen, provide support and make referrals on a wide range of issues. Crisis intervention counseling is available by phone or in person for anyone in need of immediate assistance with a personal, situational, or mental health crisis. Services are free of charge and confidential.

Health Care Associates
1021 Ingleside Avenue
Catonsville, Maryland 21228
410-455-0404
A mental health clinic for children, adolescents and adults. Provides case management, family therapy, group therapy and individual therapy and intensive outpatient services.

Hope Health Systems, Inc.
6707 Whitestone Road,  Suite 106
Baltimore, Maryland 21207
410-265-8737
Outpatient mental health clinic serving children, adolescents and adults. Provides geriatric services, family therapy, groups and individual therapy, and psychiatric rehabilitation services.

Jewish Family Services of Central Maryland
Intake Office, 410-466-9200
Professional counseling for children, adolescents, and families, serving a wide range of needs.

Key Point Health Services, Inc.
Provides outpatient community-based services to children, adolescents, and their families. Individual, family, and group therapy are offered. Psychiatric evaluation, consultation and medication monitoring are also available.

Lighthouse, Inc. - Youth Services Bureau
60 Mellor Avenue
Catonsville, Maryland 21228
410-788-5483
Crisis intervention services; call or walk-in accepted. If suicidal, intervention is provided, including accompaniment to emergency room. Special programs for youth suicide prevention. Counseling for children, youth and their families regarding various emotional and social issues. Family members are asked to attend the first session of youth counseling.

Main Street Community Mental Health Center
37 Main Street
Reisterstown, Maryland 21136
410-654-6658
Mental health clinic for children, adolescents, and adults. Provides geriatric services. Offers case management, family therapy, group and individual therapy. Intensive outpatient services available, including a mobile treatment program.

Mental Health Association of Maryland or MHAM
711 West Fortieth Street, Suite 460
Baltimore, Maryland 21211
1-800-572-MHAM that is 1 800 572 6426; 410-235-1178
Provides information and referral services, help in finding a support group, or a mental health provider.

Mosaic Community Services
Three Behavioral Health Centers offer comprehensive community mental health counseling services for children, adolescents, adults, seniors and their families.

Seasons
1701 Allen Court
Bel Air, Maryland 21015-4923
410-803-2098
Mutual help group that meets in Lutherville, Maryland and provides support and understanding for families and individuals who have experienced the loss of a loved one by suicide.

Suiciders Anonymous
410-531-6677 Twenty-four hours a day Helpline; 1 800 422 0009
For anyone who has ever attempted or seriously considered suicide. Free anonymous self-help programs-total acceptance, unconditional love.

Villa Maria Behavioral Health Clinics
Provides outpatient services including individualized assessment and plan of care, individual, group and family counseling, behavioral consultation, psychiatric evaluation and consultation, and more

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The text version of this page was last revised on 26 August 2008.
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