Crisis hotline

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As a suicide prevention initiative, this sign on the Golden Gate Bridge promotes a special telephone that connects to a crisis hotline.

A crisis hotline is a phone number people can call to get immediate over-the-phone emergency counseling, usually by trained volunteers. Such hotlines have existed in most major cities of the United States at least since the mid-1970s. Initially set up to help those contemplating suicide, many have expanded their mandate to deal more generally with emotional crises. They have also spawned similar hotlines to help counsel people in other circumstances, including rape victims, runaway children, homosexuals facing difficulties, and suchlike.

Such services began no later than 1953, with Chad Varah, an English vicar, founding The Samaritans service, which soon established branches across the entire United Kingdom. In the United States, San Francisco Suicide Prevention[1] started a hotline "Call Bruce" in 1962. A similar service, Lifeline, was established in Australia in 1963. A totally volunteer run crisis hotline, Lifelink Samaritans, was established in Tasmania in 1968 by concerned citizens of Launceston. This service provides emotional support 24 hours a day to callers from all over the state of Tasmania and does not have any religious affiliations. The organisation is a member of Befrienders Worldwide and has a "twinning" relationship with Northampton Samaritans in the UK. Lifelink Samaritans is the oldest telephone befriending service in Tasmania and the fourth oldest in Australia.

One criticism of suicide hotlines is that those who are determined to kill themselves are unlikely to call one. Also, those with social anxiety may not have the emotional resources to do so. There is no evidence that the presence of suicide hotlines reduces the incidence of suicide [2].

[edit] Directories of Crisis Hotlines

[edit] General services

• A list of crisis hotlines in many countries. Former Befrienders International website - now maintained by Samaritans UK.
• If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. This federally funded line is available 24/7 and the call is free and confidential.
• Lifeline International - originated in Australia, now has affiliates in a number of countries including the United States. In the USA, Lifeline is known as CONTACT USA.
• International Federation of Telephone Emergency Services - International federation covering mainly continental Europe.
• Suicidehotlines.com - directory of American crisis hotlines
• San Francisco Suicide Prevention has an excellent website with general information about suicide prevention.
• Lifelink Samaritans operate a non-religious and non-political 24 hour free, confidential telephone befriending service to all people in Tasmania 1300 364 566 (Statewide) or Launceston callers 6331 3355 since 1968 run by caring, trained volunteers.

[edit] Services for children and adolescents

• Samaritans offer confidential support to young people going through any form of distress, including self-harm or suicidal feelings. jo@samaritans.org
• Youth America Hotline 1-877-YOUTHLINE (968-8454-- in the US teen to teen peer counseling- calls will be routed to the nearest teen peer hotline and in the case where there are none available the call will be routed to the nearest member of the National Hopeline Network 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
• National Youth Crisis Hotline 1-800-HIT-HOME -- Help not hassle
• Childline - UK - for children and young people in the UK - 0800 1111
• Kids Help Line Australia - 1800 55 1800
• Kids Help Phone - 1 800 668 6868 - 24/7 service available to Canadian youth.
• National Runaway Switchboard at at 1-800-RUNAWAY (or 1-800-786-2929) and http://www.1800runaway.org - For runaway and homeless youth in the U.S. and U.S. territories, as well as for their families and youth who are contemplating running away.
• The Trevor Project - 1 866 4U-TREVOR / The Trevor Helpline is the only U.S. 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention hot line aimed at gay and questioning youth.
• Teen Contact 972-233-TEEN Dallas, TX Hotline 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week,

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07985560264 - Childrens Line for Self Harm. 24 hours a day - Free