Welcome. This website is designed to support you to increase safety for yourself or a loved one, friend, colleague, or client when suicide risk is elevated. Limiting a person’s access to means by which they may cause themselves harm is called lethal means safety, and here you’ll find information about a range of strategies to promote safety in times of crisis or in anticipation of crisis.
Adding time between thoughts of suicide and a person’s ability to obtain lethal means for an attempt represents a practical, lifesaving approach to prevent suicide.
You are not alone. Whether you are concerned for yourself, a child, a spouse, or someone else, help is available.
Familiarize yourself with crisis lines and community resources available to you. For immediate help call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
If you have lost someone to suicide, we are very sorry about your loss. Please have a look at resources for survivors for suicide loss to find support.
If you are concerned about how to keep yourself or a loved one who is thinking about suicide or has attempted suicide safe, this checklist offers a starting point.
If you need immediate help, for yourself or someone else, call or text 988 opens in a new windowopens phone dialer, or chat at 988lifeline.org opens in a new window to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You don’t have to be in crisis. Give them a call if you are concerned about yourself, a friend, or family member and not sure what to do.
Means safety for suicide prevention is about limiting a person's access to means, methods, or mechanisms by which they may attempt suicide. Strategies to promote safety in times of crisis or in anticipation of crisis include:
If you are concerned about how to keep yourself or a loved one who is thinking about suicide or has attempted suicide safe, this checklist offers a starting point.
If you are concerned about yourself or someone else and observe one or more of the following warning signs, trust your instincts, and reach out. This is especially urgent if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change.
For more information visit the Suicide Prevention page.
If you’re worried that someone may be having thoughts of suicide, talk to them about your concerns and ask directly: “Are you thinking about suicide or feeling that life may not be worth living?”
Communicating openly about suicide and asking about suicide has been shown to be lifesaving. It encourages people to seek help, promotes a sense of belonging and connects people to care.
For more information visit the Suicide Prevention page.
The actual period of heightened risk when someone is capable of suicidal behavior is often only minutes or hours long and accessing crisis resources can help you or someone you care about find hope and a reason for living.
For more information visit the Find Help Now page.
For more information visit the Overdose and Poisoning page.
Putting time and distance between a person and firearms during times of suicide distress and crisis can save a life. Keep a loved one safe by applying firearm safety strategies and familiarizing yourself with the law.
There are important things to consider before transferring or storing firearms outside of the home: Know the Law.
Family members and friends are allowed by law to store firearms for someone during times of suicide distress, as long as they meet all of the safety qualifications including, but not limited to: having a firearm permit, being able to safely store the firearm, and they are not prohibited from owning a firearm.
For more information on the California Penal Code Section 27545 and to see all of the requirements for storing firearms for family and friends, visit the Firearm Safety Page.
If you sense something is wrong, don’t hesitate to act. Have a conversation about your concerns and connect yourself or a loved one with crisis resources and support if needed.
Visit the Find Help Now page for resources.
You are not alone. Whether you are concerned for yourself, a child, a spouse, or someone else, help is available.
Familiarize yourself with crisis lines and community resources available to you. For immediate help call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
If you have lost someone to suicide, we are very sorry about your loss. Please have a look at resources for survivors for suicide loss to find support.
If you are concerned about how to keep yourself or a loved one who is thinking about suicide or has attempted suicide safe, this checklist offers a starting point.
You are not alone. Whether you are concerned for yourself, a child, a spouse, or someone else, help is available.
Familiarize yourself with crisis lines and community resources available to you. For immediate help call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
If you have lost someone to suicide, we are very sorry about your loss. Please have a look at resources for survivors for suicide loss to find support.
If you are concerned about how to keep yourself or a loved one who is thinking about suicide or has attempted suicide safe, this checklist offers a starting point.
If you need immediate help, for yourself or someone else, call or text 988 opens in a new windowopens phone dialer, or chat at 988lifeline.org opens in a new window to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You don’t have to be in crisis. Give them a call if you are concerned about yourself, a friend, or family member and not sure what to do.
Means safety for suicide prevention is about limiting a person's access to means, methods, or mechanisms by which they may attempt suicide. Strategies to promote safety in times of crisis or in anticipation of crisis include:
If you are concerned about how to keep yourself or a loved one who is thinking about suicide or has attempted suicide safe, this checklist offers a starting point.
If you are concerned about yourself or someone else and observe one or more of the following warning signs, trust your instincts, and reach out. This is especially urgent if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change.
For more information visit the Suicide Prevention page.
If you’re worried that someone may be having thoughts of suicide, talk to them about your concerns and ask directly: “Are you thinking about suicide or feeling that life may not be worth living?”
Communicating openly about suicide and asking about suicide has been shown to be lifesaving. It encourages people to seek help, promotes a sense of belonging and connects people to care.
For more information visit the Suicide Prevention page.
The actual period of heightened risk when someone is capable of suicidal behavior is often only minutes or hours long and accessing crisis resources can help you or someone you care about find hope and a reason for living.
For more information visit the Find Help Now page.
For more information visit the Overdose and Poisoning page.
Putting time and distance between a person and firearms during times of suicide distress and crisis can save a life. Keep a loved one safe by applying firearm safety strategies and familiarizing yourself with the law.
There are important things to consider before transferring or storing firearms outside of the home: Know the Law.
Family members and friends are allowed by law to store firearms for someone during times of suicide distress, as long as they meet all of the safety qualifications including, but not limited to: having a firearm permit, being able to safely store the firearm, and they are not prohibited from owning a firearm.
For more information on the California Penal Code Section 27545 and to see all of the requirements for storing firearms for family and friends, visit the Firearm Safety Page.
If you sense something is wrong, don’t hesitate to act. Have a conversation about your concerns and connect yourself or a loved one with crisis resources and support if needed.
Visit the Find Help Now page for resources.
You are not alone. Whether you are concerned for yourself, a child, a spouse, or someone else, help is available.
Familiarize yourself with crisis lines and community resources available to you. For immediate help call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
If you have lost someone to suicide, we are very sorry about your loss. Please have a look at resources for survivors for suicide loss to find support.
If you are concerned about how to keep yourself or a loved one who is thinking about suicide or has attempted suicide safe, this checklist offers a starting point.
Firearm safety strategies that can be applied in the home or at firearm ranges or retail stores.
Tips to reduce access to medications and other potential poisons in your home, immediate steps you can take to respond to an overdose, and how to implement suicide prevention strategies in pharmacy settings.
Strategies that can be applied in the home, jails, hospitals, and other controlled environments.
Environmental strategies for community planners that place barriers and signage to create time and space for the individual in pain to reach out for help.