NEED HELP? Support and Crisis Resources

Living with ME can be extremely difficult. #MEAction strives to create spaces of support.

Everyone at #MEAction cares deeply about the individuals in our community. We fight for your health in advocacy and scientific spaces, but we also want you to know that you are loved, supported, and valued.

Joining a group is a great way to get more deeply involved in #MEAction and the movement for equality. We have groups for patient support, caregiver support, advocacy groups and social/affinity groups. Whether you are an artist, a parent, a senior, a young person, a clinician, researcher or an ally, there are so many ways to get involved online and in your local community.

Click here for more information: https://www.meaction.net/groups/

If you are someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, please see the resources below:

Most of our groups are on Facebook, and Facebook has created a robust, global list of suicide prevention resources:

• United States

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

http://www.facebook.com/800273talk/ (chat support)

1 800 273 TALK (8255)

Veteran/Military Crisis Line (for active U.S. service members, veterans, and family members)

http://www.veteranscrisisline.net

1 800 273 8255

SMS: 838255

The Trevor Project (for LGBT youth, friends and family members)

http://www.thetrevorproject.org

1 866 488 7386

The Trans Lifeline (added by #MEAction – not originally part of Facebook’s list) 

https://www.translifeline.org

Crisis Text Line

http://www.facebook.com/crisistextline (chat support)

SMS: Text “HERE” to 741-741

 

• Worldwide

Befrienders

http://www.befrienders.org

• Canada
  Kids Help Phone (for youth under 20)

1-800-668-6868

For people over 20, find a crisis center that serves your area:

http://suicideprevention.ca/need-help/

First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line

1-855-242-3310 (toll-free, 24 hours)

The Trans Lifeline (added by #MEAction – not originally part of Facebook’s list) 

https://www.translifeline.org

• United Kingdom

Samaritans

http://www.samaritans.org

116 123

[email protected]

PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide

https://www.papyrus-uk.org/

0800 068 41 41 (weekdays 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, weekends 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and Bank Holidays 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM)

SMS: 07786 209 697

[email protected]

• Ireland

Samaritans

http://www.samaritans.org

116 123

[email protected]

Pieta House – Suicide and Self-harm Crisis Center

http://www.pieta.ie/

1800 247 247 (24 hour Freephone helpline)

SMS: Text HELP to 51444 (standard message rates apply)

[email protected]

Jigsaw – the National Center for Youth Mental Health

http://www.jigsaw.ie/

01-4727 010

[email protected]

• Germany

Telefonseelsorge

http://www.telefonseelsorge.de

https://chat.telefonseelsorge.org (chat support)

0800 111 0 111

0800 111 0 222

Nummer gegen Kummer

https://www.nummergegenkummer.de

0800 111 0 550 (adults)

0800 111 0 333 (teens)

• Argentina

Hablemos de Todo

http://www.hablemosdetodo.gob.ar

• Australia

Lifeline Australia

http://www.lifeline.org.au

13 11 14

Kids Helpline

http://www.kidshelp.com.au

1800 55 1800

Headspace (ages 12-25)

http://headspace.org.au/

beyondblue

http://bb.org.au/1lmergR (email any time or chat online between 3:00 PM – midnight AET)

1300 22 4636

• Austria

Rat auf Draht

http://rataufdraht.orf.at

147

• Belgium

Centrum Ter Preventie Van Zelfdoding

http://www.zelfmoord1813.be

1813

Centre de Prévention du Suicide

http://www.preventionsuicide.be

0800 32 123

• Brazil

CVV

http://www.cvv.org.br

http://www.cvv.org.br/chat.php (chat support)

141

[email protected]

• Bulgaria

Национален център за безопасен интернет (Bulgarian Safer Internet Center)

https://www.safenet.bg/bg/

124123

Национална телефонна линия за деца (National Child Helpline)

http://116111.bg/

116 111

• Chile

Todo Mejora

https://todomejora.org/apoyo/ (email or chat support)

• Croatia

HRABRI Telefon (for teens)

http://www.hrabritelefon.hr/

https://www.facebook.com/HrabriTelefon/

116 111 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM)

• Czech Republic

Linka bezpečí

http://www.linkabezpeci.cz

116 111

Pražská linka důvěry

222 580 697

Linka důvěry Ostrava

http://www.mnof.cz/linka_duvery

596 618 908

737 267 939

Linka duševní tísně Most

http://www.mostknadeji.eu/linka-dusevni-tisne

476 701 444 (from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM)

Skype: ldt.most

Linka důvěry DKC

241 484 149

Skype: ld_dkc

• Denmark

Livslinien

http://www.livslinien.dk

70 201 201 (11:00-23:00 daily)

BørneTelefonen

https://bornetelefonen.dk/ring

116 111 (11:00-23:00 daily)

• Estonia

MTÜ Peaasjad

https://www.peaasi.ee/

http://peaasi.ee/kysi-noustajalt/ (online counseling)

https://www.facebook.com/Peaasi.ee/

• Finland

Suomen Mielenterveysseura

http://www.mielenterveysseura.fi

010 195 202

• France

S.O.S Amitié

http://www.sos-amitie.com

09 72 39 40 50

Net Ecoute (for teens)

http://www.netecoute.fr/

0 800 200 000

• Ghana

Step To Life Foundation Ghana

0244239629

• Greece

Suicide Prevention Centre Klimaka NGO

1018

Hamogelo (for teens under 18)

http://www.hamogelo.gr/37.1/Ethnikh-thlefonikh-grammh-gia-ta-poidia-SOS-1056

1056

• Hong Kong

The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong (香港撒瑪利亞防止自殺會)

http://www.help4suicide.com.hk

http://www.sbhk.org.hk

2389 2222

[email protected]

The Samaritans Hong Kong (香港撒瑪利亞會)

http://www.samaritans.org.hk

2896 0000

• Hungary

LESZ

http://www.sos-116-123.eoldal.hu/

https://www.facebook.com/eOldal.hu/

116 123

[email protected]sos505.hu

Kek Vonal

http://www.kek-vonal.hu/index.php/hu/lelkisegely-vonal

http://www.kek-vonal.hu/index.php/hu/interaktiv-kapcsolatok

116-111

• Iceland

Rauði krossinn (Red Cross)

https://www.raudikrossinn.is/polski

https://www.facebook.com/raudikrossinn/

1717 (open 24/7)

• India

AASRA

http://www.aasra.info

91-22-27546669

[email protected]

iCall

022-25521111

[email protected]

• Israel

ERAN

http://www.eran.org.il

1201

SAHAR

http://www.sahar.org.il (Hebrew)

http://www.sahar.org.il/?categoryId=63068 (Arabic)

• Italy

Telefono Azzurro (for teens under 18)

http://www.azzurro.it

http://consulenzaonline.azzurro.it/xchatty/chat.html (chat support)

19696

Telefono Amico

http://www.telefonoamico.it

199 284 284

• Japan

Tokyo Suicide Prevention Center（東京自殺防止センター)

http://www.befrienders-jpn.org/

03-5286-9090 (open year round from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM / (Tuesday only) from 5:00 PM to 6:00 AM)

Inochi-no-Denwa（日本いのちの電話連盟)

http://www.inochinodenwa.org/lifeline.php

0570-783-556 (Navi dial from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM)

• Kenya

Befrienders Kenya

https://www.befrienderskenya.org (chat support)

Call or text +254 722178177 (from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM)

Call or text +254 736542304 (from 7: 00 AM to 9:00 PM)

[email protected]

• Latvia

Skalbes

http://www.skalbes.lv

371 67222922 (from 9:00 to 17:00)

371 27722292 (from 9:00 to 17:00)

• Lithuania

Lithuanian Association of Emotional Support Lines

http://www.klausau.lt

Vaikų Linija (Child line)

http://www.vaikulinija.lt

116 111 (from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM)

Jaunimo Linija (Youth line)

http://www.jaunimolinija.lt/laiskai/

8 800 28888

Vilties Linija (Hope line)

http://www.kpsc.lt/vilties_linija.html

116 123

[email protected]

Pagalbos Moterims Linija (Women’s line)

http://www.moteriai.lt

8 800 66366 (from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM)

[email protected]

Linija Doverija (Trust Line)

8 800 77277 (Monday – Friday, 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM)

• Luxembourg

SOS Détresse – Hëllef iwwer Telefon

http://www.454545.lu

454545

Kanner-Jugendtelefon

http://www.kjt.lu

116 111

• Mexico

Instituto Hispanoamericano de Suicidologia, A.C

+5255 46313300

[email protected]

Decide Vivir México, A.C.

[email protected]

• Netherlands

113

https://www.113.nl/

0900-0113 (free, anonymous 24 hour hotline)

• New Zealand

Depression Hotline

http://www.depression.org.nz

0800 111 757

The Lowdown

http://www.thelowdown.co.nz

SMS: 5626

Youthline

http://www.youthline.co.nz

0800 376 633

SMS: 234

[email protected]

[email protected]

Lifeline Aotearoas Suicide Prevention Helpline

0508 828 865

• Nigeria

Nigeria Suicide Prevention Initiative – NSPI

http://www.facebook.com/nspinitiative/

+234 (0)809210643

[email protected]

• Norway

Kirkens SOS

http://www.kirkens-sos.no

http://www.soschat.no/chat (chat support)

224 00 040 (from 11:00 to 23:00)

Mental Helse Hjelpetelefonen

116 123

Sidetmedord.no

http://www.sidetmedord.no (chat support)

ROS –Rådgivning om spiseforstyrrelser

http://www.facebook.com/nettros.no (chat support)

948 17 818

[email protected]

• Poland

Telefon Zaufania dla Dzieci i Młodzieży (for children and youth)

http://www.116111.pl/napisz (chat support)

116 111

• Portugal

SOS VOZ AMIGA

http://www.sosvozamiga.org

21 354 45 45 (16h-24h)

91 280 26 69 (16h-24h)

96 352 46 60 (16h-24h)

• Romania

Alianta Romana de Preventie a Suicidului

http://www.antisuicid.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Alianta-Romana-de-Preventie-a-Suicidului-156170394409923/

0800801200 (from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM)

[email protected]

• Russia

ROCIT (for youth)

https://rocit.ru/

https://www.facebook.com/rocit.ru/

[email protected]

Your Territory (for youth under 23)

http://www.helpteens.ru/

https://www.facebook.com/tvoyaterritoria.online/

8 800 2000 122

[email protected]

• Serbia

Centar Srce

http://www.centarsrce.org

0800 300 303

[email protected]

• Singapore

Samaritans of Singapore (新加坡援人協會)

http://samaritans.org.sg

1800 221 4444

[email protected]

• Slovakia

Linka detskej istoty (24/7 helpline for children and youth under 18)

http://www.ldi.sk (chat support between 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM)

116 000

Linka detskej dôvery

https://www.linkadeti.sk/linka-detskej-dovery (chat support)

055/234 72 72

Skype: linkadeti

[email protected]

Linka dôvery (for adults)

055/622 23 23 (Monday – Friday, 7:30 – 19:30 and nonstop Saturday – Sunday)

Linka nádeje (for adults)

055/644 11 55 (Monday – Friday, 7:30 – 19:30, nonstop Saturday – Sunday)

Liga za duševné zdravie (for adults)

https://www.dusevnezdravie.sk/online-poradna/

02/638 15592

IPčko

0907 404 291

[email protected]

• South Africa

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)

http://www.sadag.org

0800 567 567

0800 70 80 90

0800 12 13 14

SMS: 31393

LifeLine offers free counselling and 24-hour telephonic counselling for anyone requires support with a range of emotional and trauma related issues. They have services in JHB and CPT

Counselling line: 0861 322 322

WhatsApp line: 065 989 9238

JHB: http://www.lifelinejhb.org.za/

WC: http://www.lifelinewc.org.za/

South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)

SADAG is South Africa’s most loved mental health advocacy group. They offer free telephonic counselling sessions between 08:00 to 20:00, a 24-hour crisis line, and facilitate support groups around the country.

Suicide Crisis Line

0800 567 567

http://www.sadag.org

TherapyRoute

TherapyRoute connects people to nearby mental health services, e.g. psychologists, social workers, community clinics, NGO’s, and psychiatric hospitals throughout South Africa.

https://www.therapyroute.com/

Cape Town

Cape Mental Health Society

Cape Mental Health Society is a mental health advocacy group that provides or facilitates comprehensive, pro-active and enabling mental health services in the Western Cape.

http://www.capementalhealth.co.za

Hope House Counselling Centre

Hope House is a Cape Town based Christian organisation that offers therapy for trauma, mental illness, relationship problems, family problems, and suicide thoughts. They have centers Bergvliet, Tableview, and Kuilsrivier.

https://hopehouse.org.za/

Durban

Grace Counselling

Grace Counselling is Christian-based organisation that provides therapeutic assistance for mental health and spiritual related issues. They are based in the north of Durban but link other churches throughout Durban.

http://www.gracecounselling.org.za/

Johannesburg

iThemba rape and trauma support centre

The iThemba rape and trauma support centre is dedicated to offering comprehensive care for the survivors of traumatic events, as well as their family and friends.

http://ithembasupport.org.za/wp/

TEARS sexual abuse counselling

TEARS Foundation provides access to crisis intervention, advocacy, counselling, and prevention education services for those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and child sexual abuse.

Helpline: *134*7355#

Landline: 010 590 5920

https://www.tears.co.za/

Port Elizabeth

Revive Counselling Centre

Revive offers free counselling for depression and anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and dealing with traumatic experiences. They are based in Port Elizabeth and offer a Wednesday walk in centre. Call to make an appointment for other days.

http://www.revive.org.za/

• South Korea

HopeClick

http://www.hopeclick.or.kr

중앙자살예방센터 (Korea Suicide Prevention Center)

http://www.spckorea.or.kr

+82 2-2203-0053

[email protected]

보건복지부 보건복지콜센터 (Ministry of Health & Welfare Call Center)

129 (24시간 위기상담 / 24 hour hotline)

정신건강증진센터 정신건강위기상담전화 (Mental Health Center Crisis Counseling)

1577-0199 (24시간 위기상담 / 24 hour hotline)

• Spain

Teléfono de la Esperanza

http://telefonodelaesperanza.org

717 003 717

• Sweden

Mind

https://mind.se/

https://mind.se/sjalvmordslinjen/ (chat support)

90101

• Switzerland

Tel 143

http://www.143.ch

https://www.143.ch/Beratung/Chat-Kontakt (chat support)

143

• Taiwan

Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center (台灣自殺防治中心)

http://www.tspc.tw

0800 788 995

• Ukraine

Ла Страда-Украина (La Strada Ukraine)

http://www.la-strada.org.ua/

0 800 500 335 (free calls from fixed and mobile phones all over Ukraine)

386 (free from mobile phones)

National Child Toll-Free Hotline (Monday – Friday 12:00 – 20:00, Saturdays 12:00 – 16:00)

0 800 500 225 (free calls from fixed and mobile phones all over Ukraine)

116 111 (free from mobile phones)

 

If someone you know is having suicidal thoughts:

These adapted Suicide Prevention Hotline highlights tips may be helpful when talking to someone who may be suicidal:

• Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
• Be willing to listen. Allow expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings.
• Be non-judgmental. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don’t lecture on the value of life.
• Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
• Don’t dare him or her to do it.
• Don’t act shocked. This will put distance between you.
• Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support. Don’t take on more than you can handle. You must also take care of yourself. Team up with another online support group member to be there for the person struggling.
• Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance.
• Get help from people or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
• Most of all, no matter what happens, remember that ultimately the decision is with the individual. All you can do is provide support. Although good support and a listening ear can go a long way in a crisis, even trained mental health and medical professionals may not be able to stop a determined person from ending their lives if they have decided to do so. We promote a place of love and grace for everyone.
• Be clear that you are not qualified to provide professional or medical advice, and gently encourage the individual to consider doing so.

We recognize that news of any loss in our community, whether by suicide or other causes, can be devastating for a community that is already dealing with grief and loss about their own illness on a daily basis, and in need of hope and support. At the same time, many community members will already be grieving this person’s lost and will want a space to honor, remember, and find support.

It also important to minimize talking about suicide in a way that may contribute to another suicide. Why is this important? According to reportingonsuicide.org:

• “Risk of additional suicides increases when the story explicitly describes the suicide method, uses dramatic/graphic headlines or images, and repeated/extensive coverage sensationalizes or glamorizes a death.”

At the same time:

• “Covering suicide carefully, even briefly, can change public misperceptions and correct myths, which can encourage those who are vulnerable or at risk to seek help.”

For this reason, when #MEAction shares news of the loss of a community members on social media or when any participant does the same, the participant abide by these do’s and don’ts:

• Do not shame anyone who has chosen to end their life early or shame their families. While we as individuals may have strong feelings about suicide as a concept, remember that the individual who died was a person with friends, family, hobbies, and history who lost a long, hard fight.  Please help honor their memory.
• Do not gossip or speculate on the cause of death if the family has not released it. Consider the pain it might cause them to read about strangers about their loved one on social media. Suicide can unfortunately, have a contagious effect.
• Don’t sensationalize the event or place “suicide” in the headline/title. (In headlines, “dies” is appropriate.) Rather say “Our friend, Jane Smith, has passed away” OR “Celebrity dead at 27.”
• Avoid exact details on locations and methods.
• Avoid photos or videos of the location or method of death, and of grieving family and friends or memorial services. Use instead photographs of the individual who has died.
• Avoid sharing information from suicide notes about motives.
• Don’t oversimplify. Suicide is complex and often has many factors. It is almost certainly inaccurate to cite a single cause as, for example, “recent money woes” or “a fight with a spouse.”
• Respect privacy. Be careful sharing information from closed Facebook groups or private Facebook pages that may not be meant to be shared publicly. Be sensitive to the fact that family members may see your posts about their loved one’s suicide.
• Avoid linking to mainstream press articles that violate  the content or spirit of these guidelines
• Do link to Facebook’s list of suicide prevention resources or other local prevention resources whenever posting about suicide. On Twitter, use threads to help accommodate the additional information
• Do use this standard language: We are grieving the loss of a community member, (Insert name). We are so sad for this loss. We will honor their life by continuing to fight for the rights with those with ME and CFS and push our governments to give funding to one day find a cure.