General Resources
The 988 Suicide & Crisis 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. If you need help, call or text 9-8-8 now. You will be routed to the closest possible crisis center in your area.
Active Minds was incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization in late 2003. Active Minds has become the voice of young adult mental health advocacy nationwide. With more than 400 campus chapters, hundreds of thousands of young adults all across the country are benefiting from the Active Minds model.
AAS promotes research, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. In addition, AAS serves as a national clearinghouse for information on suicide.
The CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, DCD fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same.
Since 1989, the Child Safety Network has been making America a safer place for children to live. Their mission is to reduce the likelihood of children becoming victims of abuse, abduction, exploitation, youth violence and preventable injury. With the goal of helping parents raise safer, healthier children by developing and implementing child safety programs on a national basis, Children’s Safety Network acts as a true “network” to bring hundreds of resources to bear.
Crisis Text Line is free 24/7 support at your fingertips where every texter is connected with a real-life, trained Crisis Counselor. All Crisis Counselors are volunteers, who donate their time to helping people in crisis. Text 741741 or send a message on WhatsApp.
Advances holistic, data-driven suicide prevention in our military community through policy, oversight, and engagement to positively impact individual beliefs and behaviors, as well as instill systemic culture change.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance and advances equality.
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. They believe that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a healthy school climate, they work to educate teachers, students and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces have on youth and adults alike. They recognize that forces such as racism and sexism have similarly adverse impacts on communities, and we support schools in seeking to redress all such inequities. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. Welcoming any and all individuals as members, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or occupation, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in K-12 schools.
The Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a national youth leadership organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources through peer support, leadership development and training. GSA Network supports young people in starting, strengthening and sustaining GSAs and builds the capacity of GSAs to: 1. create safe environments in schools for students to support each other and learn about homophobia, transphobia and other oppressions, 2. educate the school community about homophobia, transphobia, gender identity and sexual orientation issues, and 3. fight discrimination, harassment and violence in schools.
Help4WV offers immediate help for any West Virginian struggling with an addiction or mental health issue. The helpline staff offers confidential support and resource referrals, including self-help groups, outpatient counseling, medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric care, emergency care and residential treatment. The helpline provides assistance for those who need help themselves and guidance for those seeking help for loved ones. It is also an ideal way for social workers, nurses and others involved in discharge or cares planning to access a comprehensive list of state resources.
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin formed the Governor’s Advisory Council on Substance Abuse and six regional task forces because substance abuse threatens West Virginia’s families, workforce and communities with over 152,000 West Virginians in need of treatment. Community members know their towns and neighbors best. They understand what is at the root of their particular problem. This site will provide the user with the latest information on what is happening in their communities.
The Kids Count Data Center provides state legislators, public officials and child advocates with reliable data, policy recommendations and tools needed to advance sound policies that benefit children and families.
An interactive website featuring blustery and manly therapist “Dr. Rich Mahogany,” Man Therapy seeks to counter the stigma associated with therapy by reaching out to men with humor and manly banter. Visitors to the site can take an “18 point head inspection,” watch videos about men who have overcome serious challenges in life and find ways to seek help for themselves or someone else. Dr. Rich Mahogany along with the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention, Carson J. Spencer Foundation and Cactus, Man Therapy(TM) is giving men a resource they desperately need to help them with any problem that life sends their way. Man Therapy is something to set them straight on the realities of suicide and mental health, and in the end, a tool to help put a stop to the suicide deaths.
NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Dedicated NAMI members, leaders and friends work tirelessly across all levels to meet a shared NAMI mission of support, education, advocacy and research for people living with mental illness.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network was established to improve access to care, treatment and services for traumatized children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events.
The National Council is the unifying voice of America’s community mental health and substance use treatment organizations. Together with our 2,000+ member organizations employing 750,000 staff, we serve our nation’s most vulnerable citizens – more than 8 million adults and children living with mental illnesses and addiction disorders.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s mission is to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction. This charge has two critical components: (1) is the strategic support and conduct of research across a broad range of disciplines; (2) is ensuring the rapid and effective dissemination and use of the results of that research to significantly improve prevention and treatment and to inform policy as it relates to drug abuse and addiction.
For more than 50 years, Search Institute has been a leader and partner for organizations around the world in discovering what kids need to succeed. Our research, resources, and expertise help our partners in organizations, schools and community coalitions solve critical challenges in the lives of young people. We focus on deepening understanding and working with partners to improve the lives of young people in three critical areas: Developmental Assets, Developmental Relationships and Developmental Communities.
SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.
The mission of SAVE is to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, eliminate stigma and serve as a resource to those touched by suicide. SAVE was started in 1989 when six suicide survivors (people who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide) met and agreed on the need for an organization. The organization is comprised mostly of suicide survivors and people that have suffered from suicide.
The SPRC is the nation’s only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. They provide technical assistance, training and materials to increase the knowledge and expertise of suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide. SPRC promotes collaboration among a variety of organizations that play a role in developing the field of suicide prevention.
StopBullying.gov is a federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyber-bullying is, who is at risk and how you can prevent and respond to bullying.
Veteran Crisis Line is a text messaging service, and online chat provides free VA support for all Service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and all Veterans, even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA health care.
A hub of information for teachers, administrators, counselors, family members and students. It includes links to student leadership opportunities, career counseling, resources for families, a speaker series, tutoring services and much more. The Common Ground Partnership, established in 2011, consists of the West Virginia Board of Education, the state Department of Education and every military branch.
The WV School Health Technical Assistance Center is based at the Center for Rural Health, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University. Since 1994, the Center has provided technical assistance to and evaluation of school-based health centers. Currently, the Center provides technical assistance to support community and school partnerships for school-based health services in areas of primary health care, mental health and dental health.
youth.gov (formerly FindYouthInfo.gov) was created by the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP), which is composed of representatives from 19 federal agencies that support programs and services focusing on youth. The IWGYP promotes the goal of positive, healthy outcomes for youth.
Zero Suicide is a key concept of the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, a priority of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) and a project of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). The foundational belief of Zero Suicide is that suicide deaths for individuals under care within health and behavioral health systems are preventable. It presents both a goal and an aspirational challenge.