1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

Drawings in this post are original and created by a 15-year-old teen.

Before you do anything else — and that includes reading the rest of this post — put that number in your phone’s contacts list.

Go ahead. I’ll wait. First name: Hotline. Last name: Suicide.

Here it is again.

1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

Deaf Hotline: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889)

This is the most general number — besides 911 in immediate or urgent situations — that will get you, a friend, or a family member the quickest help that might be needed in a time of crisis or uncertainty.

Who should call this number? Let’s dispel a few rumors with a few facts.

Help is needed not just for teens struggling with bullying and cyberbullying issues. No one is immune from depression, anxiety, or having thoughts of suicide.

According to The Department of Veterans Affairs in February, 2013, 22 U.S. Veterans are committing suicide daily. That’s one suicide every 65 minutes. And, the shocking thing about this statistic is that it is based on information provided by only 21 states, comprising just 40% of the U.S. population.

Also, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults (that’s 18% of the population).

Anxiety disorders do arise from very stressful situations that teens and adults face every day: school, tests, college, work, acceptance, success. When you combine the daily stresses with the fact that these disorders also arise from genetics, brain chemistry, and personality, we begin to get a clearer picture that it isn’t something that we can just “get over” or “deal with.”

So, if you are calling a crisis center because you are concerned about a friend, they will understand that. This hotline is for people who are having a crisis AND for family members and friends who are concerned about another individual.

As well, there is no magical line regarding depression, anxiety, or thoughts of suicide that you have to cross to call this number. If you notice that you are uncommonly depressed for a few weeks, call. If you notice a friend is suddenly withdrawn and you don’t know what to do, call. If you have a son or daughter that is under a lot of stress and is showing signs of anxiety or depression — and you don’t know how to respond, call.

If you are NOT in Maryland, and you are looking for specific help in your state, try http://suicidehotlines.com/. They have crisis numbers and information for every state.

Here are a few specific national hotlines that might be suitable for your specific needs, regardless of where you live.

Youth America Hotline: Counseling For Teens By Teens
1-877-968-8454

Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth (The Trevor Project)
1-866-488-7386

National Graduate Student Crisis Line
1-800-GRAD-HLP (1-800-472-3457)

Vet2Vet Veteran’s Crisis Hotline
1-877-VET-2-VET (1-877-838-2838)

Veteran’s Crisis Line
1-800-273-8255, then press 1

Postpartum Depression Hotline
1-800-PPD-MOMS (1-800-773-6667)

If you are in Maryland, scroll down. Counties and some university systems are listed. If you have updated information or would like me to add your information to this list, email me at rusvw13@gmail.com.

MARYLAND HOTLINES AND CRISIS NUMBERS

Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-422-0009; TDD Line for the hearing impaired: 410-531-5086

Baltimore First Step Youth Services Center (www.firststepmd.com): 410-521-3800

Baltimore Suicide Prevention Hotline/Crisis Response: 410-752-2272

Baltimore County Crisis Response: 410-931-2214

Columbia Grassroots Crisis Intervention (http://grassrootscrisis.org), 24/7/365: Hotline: 410-531-6677

Frederick County Hotline (http://www.fcmha.org/hotline.htm), 24/7/365: Hotline: 301-662-2255

Frederick County Local Youth Crisis Hotline: 301-694-8255

Frederick County Parent Stress Line: 301-662-2255

Frederick County Senior Reassurance Program: 301-663-0011

Montgomery County Hotline (24/7/365): 240-777-4000; 240-777-4815 (TTY)

Prince George’s County Hotline & Suicide Prevention Center (serving Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s counties) (http://www.communitycrisis.org) 24/7/365:

PG Suicide Hotline: 301-864-7130

PG General Crisis and Referral Line: 301-864-7161

PG County Crisis Response System: 301-927-4500

Salisbury Life Crisis Center: 410-749-4357 (HELP); 410-749-4363

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

University of Maryland

HELP Center (University of Maryland – 3105 South Campus Dining Hall)
Telephone: 301-314-HELP
Hours of Operation:

◦ Monday – Thursday, 2:00 pm – 2:00 am
◦ Friday, 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm
◦ Saturday and Sunday, 4:00 pm – 12:00 am

Active Minds at Maryland: http://www.sandmadventure.com/Active_Minds/Home.html
They have a great counseling center at http://www.counseling.umd.edu/

Numbers and hours for emergency services—

University Counseling Center (University of Maryland — Shoemaker Building)
Telephone: 301-314-7651
Hours of Operation:
◦ Monday – Tuesday, Thursday – Friday — 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

◦ Wednesday — 8:30 am – 9:00 pm

◦ Saturday & Sunday — CLOSED

Mental Health Service (University of Maryland — Health Center)
Telephone: 301-314-8106
Hours of Operation:
◦ Monday – Friday – 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

◦ Saturday & Sunday – CLOSED

Towson University

Here’s the link to the Counseling Center: http://www.towson.edu/counseling/

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-2512

E-mail: counseling@towson.edu

Active Minds If you’re interested in Active Minds at TU, you can contact their president Chrissy Richardson at cricha9@students.towson.edu. You can get information about their weekly meetings, their upcoming events, or suggest other ways that we can all work to erase the stigma around mental health and treatment. You can find the Towson chapter of Active Minds on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_150898604967673

UMBC

University Counseling Services
Student Development & Success Center
(between Chesapeake and Susquehanna Halls)
410-455-2472
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
The UMBC, University Counseling Services is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc.

For emergency during hours above: Call 410-455-2472 or walk-in

For immediate assistance during all other hours:

On campus, contact:

• Residential Life staff (Resident Assistant or Community Director) or
• call Campus Police at 410-455-5555.

In addition, area crisis hotlines include:

• Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center: 410-531-6677

Salisbury University

Guerrieri University Center
Room 263
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD 21801-6860

Contact: (410) 543-6070 (phone)
(410) 548-4052 (fax)
counseling@salisbury.edu

Monday through Friday

8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Fall/Spring semesters, Winter term
8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Summer

Active Minds at Salisbury

Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71698514948

Location: Student Counseling Center

Don’t hesitate to make the call. These resources are here to help all of us. Let’s eliminate the stigma attached to depression and realize that we’re all in this together.

Make a difference. Make the call.