This story has been updated with the most recent suicide statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There has been a startling rise in the suicide rate in America. Recent studies from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that from 1999 to 2014, the overall U.S. suicide rate increased by 24 percent.
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And according to the CDC, suicide rates among 15- to 19-year-old girls doubled between 2007 and 2015, reaching a 40-year high.
Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in Georgia and among people ages 25-34 and ages 15-17, suicide is the second leading cause of death in the state.
In 2017, 20 kids and teens have taken their own lives in Georgia — 14 since early April alone, AJC's Rhonda Cook reported.
And, according to CDC data, almost twice as many people die by suicide than homicide in the state.
Local suicide prevention organizations know this urgency and are stepping in to help. Critical suicide prevention care includes crisis lines where individuals with suicidal ideation can speak with trained counselors or get a referral to crisis centers that provide short term stabilization. For acute long term care, access lines can connect people with local resources, such as inpatient hospitalization for a residential stay at a mental health facility. To ensure recovery, outpatient treatment offers day mental health services. Supportive housing can allow individuals to regain independence while having a structured treatment program. Other services include therapy, mental health education, and peer support groups where people with lived experience can share practical lessons.
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Below is a compiled list of suicide prevention resources in the Atlanta area, including Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett County. Each resource could mean a life spared from suicide.
NATIONAL CRISIS LINES
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
24/7 suicide prevention number that connects users with a trained counselor at a local crisis center
Text START to 741-741
24/7 volunteer led text support for people in crisis
(866) 488-7386
Text: Trevor to 202-304-1200 Thurs-Fri (4-8pm)
24/7 suicide prevention hotline for LGTBQ young people from 13-24
ATLANTA AREA CRISIS & ACCESS LINES
Georgia Crisis & Access Line (operated by Behavioral Health Link)
1-800-715-4225
For Georgia residents wanting access to suicide prevention care
Cobb County & Douglass County Access Center
(770) 422-0202 (M-F 7am-5pm)
A call center for information regarding intake appointments and referrals to mental health services
Dekalb Community Service Board Central Access Line
(404) 892-4646
Crisis line for referrals to the 24/7 Dekalb Regional Crisis Center or other psychiatric services such as outpatient therapy, counseling, and housing
Fulton County Behavioral Access & Information Line
(404) 612-1211 (M-F 8:30-5pm)
Access line to learn how to handle mental health situations and get referrals to mental health services
Gwinnett County Suicide Prevention Hotline
(770) 985-2494
24/7 emergency mental health phone line
(404) 321-6111 Ext. 7620 (M-F 8am-4:30pm)
Atlanta VA Medical Center's mental health help line for veterans
211
Access line that connects people to local mental health assistance
CRISIS CENTERS/HOSPITALIZATION/HOUSING
Behavioral Health Crisis Center (Cobb County & Douglas County Community Service Board)
(404) 794-4857
Short term crisis stabilization for those dealing with psychiatric problems
(404) 294-0499
Psychiatric emergency room for individuals experiencing psychiatric instability
Project Interconnections, Inc.
2198 Dresden Drive
Chamblee, GA 30341
(404) 325-4572
housinginfo@projectinterconnections.org
Supportive housing for individuals who are mentally ill and homeless
1961 North Druid Hills Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 315-8333
Residential treatment and day treatment to help individuals recover from severe mental illness
(404) 874-2224 (M-F 8am-5pm)
Residential support for those needing mental health and addiction treatment
OUTPATIENT/GROUP THERAPY
Cobb Outpatient Services (Bright Changes)
(770) 514-2422
Day services for individuals with persistent mental health problems
(770) 949-8082
Day services for individuals with persistent mental health problems and suicide hotline coordination
North DeKalb Mental Health Center
3807 Clairmont Road
Chamblee, Georgia 30341
(770) 457-5867
Day services for adults and children with mental health needs
Fulton County Oak Hill Child, Adolescent & Family Center
2805 Metropolitan Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30315
(404) 612-4111
Mental health support and children's services
Lawrenceville: (678) 209-2411
Norcross: (678) 209-2745
Outpatient services at Gwinnett County locations
COUNSELING
(404) 486-9034
Counseling services for children, adolescent, parents, and families
990 Edgewood Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 658-1222
heartworkcounseling@heartworkcounseling.com
Counseling services with some offered on a sliding scale basis
Sandy Springs Office and The House Next Door
(404) 256-9797
(M-Thurs 10am-9pm Fri 10am-5pm)
Cobb County Office
(770) 541-1114
(M-W 10am-9pm Tues-Thurs 10am-5pm Fri 10am-4pm)
Non-profit community counseling center that offers suicide prevention and aftercare including grief consultations and survivors of suicide support groups
(678) 363 3079
info@serfam.org
Counseling for youth, couples, individuals, and families with the focus on strengthening Latino families
PEER SUPPORT GROUPS
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Georgia
(770) 843-3836 cowens@afsp.org
Survivor support events and mental health education programs
(800) 826-3632
Support groups for those dealing with depression and bipolar disorder
(770) 234-0855 namigeorgia@namiga.org
Provides comprehensive listing of all Atlanta area NAMI programs
Neighborhood Union Health Center (Fulton County)
(404) 612-9330
Depression & co-occuring issues group therapy programs as well as mental health screening/treatment planning
Atlanta: Fay (404) 292-4291 aligarpr@gmail.com
Support groups for people with suicidal ideation and other mental illnesses
Viewpoint Health Community Rehabilitation
Five Points 595-D Old Norcross Road Lawrenceville, GA 30046 (770) 995-6901
Peer led groups and activities to encourage independence and advocacy
MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
Mental Health America of Georgia
100 Edgewood Avenue
Suite 502
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 527-7175
Mental health screening, mental health first aid training, project healthy moms, and respect institute
Perimeter Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Ministry (Fulton County)
(678) 405-2277
Marti Vogt: martiv@perimeter.org
Mental health first aid training, support groups, and faith coalition around mental health