Suicide Prevention
Get Help Now
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Hopeline
- Trevor Project
- Local Support Groups
- Spanish-speaking Crisis Text Line
- Local Crisis Helplines
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
No matter what problems you are dealing with, we want to help you find a reason to keep living.
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 in the United States.
What Happens When You Call The Lifeline?
First, you’ll hear an automated message featuring additional options while your call is routed to your local Lifeline network crisis center. We’ll play you a little music while we connect you to a skilled, trained crisis worker. A trained crisis worker at your local center will answer the phone. This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and get you the help you need.
Lifeline Chat
Lifeline Chat is a service of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, connecting individuals with counselors for emotional support and other services via web chat.Chat now.
Hopeline
Hopeline is a Wisconsin-based emotional support text line.
On your cell phone – put the number 741741 in the To section. Then type in the word “HOPELINE” in the message area. Then click Send.
Hopeline, by theCenter for Suicide Awareness, is a text-in (versus voice call-in) free service for help and hope. HOPELINE is the Emotional Support Text Line in the State of Wisconsin and provides service throughout the entire state.
Hopeline's purpose is to offer emotional support and resources before situations rise to crisis level. Texts received reflect struggles with breakups, job loss, bullying, LGBTQ issues, parental issues, school, friends, relationship issues or any struggle a person is experiencing.
Trevor Project
If you are thinking about harming yourself — get immediate support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free.
We're here for you. Chat, call or text.
The Trevor Project is a national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among LGBT youth.
Local Support Groups
Online Support Groups
A support group open to high school students (ages 14-18) where teens can connect with other teens, learn from each other’s experiences, share coping skills, and offer understanding and encouragement in a non-judgemental atmosphere. Parent/guardian permission is required.
Teens Supporting Teens
NAMI Fox Valley teen support groups – offered in several locations in the Fox Valley and surrounding area – are ongoing, weekly support groups for teens ages 14-18 (must be in high school) who are experiencing mental health challenges. These groups are led by two trained, adult facilitators. The groups are drop in with no preregistration required and are offered at no cost to participants.
Spanish-speaking Crisis Text Line
Texto Esperanza:Mande APOYO a 839863 (es gratis). De lunes a jueves (12 - 4 pm and 6 - 10 pm)
Local Crisis Helplines
Calumet County Department of Human Services
(920) 849-9317
Outagamie County Crisis Intervention Helpline
(920) 832-4646
Winnebago County Crisis Intervention Helpline
Oshkosh (920) 233-7707
Neenah (920) 722-7707
Wisconsin Statewide Crisis line
1-866-317-9362
For a complete listing of county crisis lines in Wisconsin, visit:https://www.preventsuicidewi.org/county-crisis-lines
What to expect when crisis is contacted
Calling the crisis number can be a scary thing to do, but when you call, you will be dealing with trained professionals who work with crisis experiences daily! This group of individuals are available to you 24/7, 7 days a week.
Usually when your county’s crisis center is contacted they will start off by asking for your name and phone number, and possibly address, in case of phone disconnection and the need to call you back. The crisis worker will then go into brief questions about the current situation and the reason as to why you are calling. They can provide brief counseling via telephone as well as provide referral services. They will assess for safety of the individual- asking such questions of if there are any suicidal thoughts, plans, intent, behaviors, and actions. The crisis worker will continue to provide brief telephone therapy and provide referral services if needed.
Depending on the situation, a crisis worker may contact the crisis team, which is a backup to the phone team. These individuals would come to your home/wherever you are to further assess and help with the current situation. While there, they will continue to talk with the individual(s) involved to see if the problem can be resolved or reduced.
If there are any concerns for safety and/or they feel the individual needs to be hospitalized, crisis would then work towards getting the individual(s) to the nearest hospital for a further evaluation. They would first try to ask a trusted family member or friend to drive them, but if there is not anyone available, crisis will call the police department and they will then deliver them to the hospital.
Once at the hospital, the staff there will consult a psych evaluation and decide if there is a need for hospitalization. If hospitalization is not needed, the crisis team can also provide follow-up which may include intensive short-term therapy, alternate living arrangements, and/or referral to helpful agencies within the community. Overall the crisis team is working closely with law enforcement, mental health agencies, and the court systems, to best meet the needs of every individual.
The Appleton Area School District will seek means to help students who are considered at risk for suicide and provide support for staff and peers affected by student suicide. A youth suicide prevention program shall be used by District staff.
District staffarein positions to recognize students who are at risk for suicide; under no circ*mstances should this be kept confidential. State Statute provides immunity from civil liability for staff members who work to prevent suicide.
The District believes that suicide prevention is a responsibility shared by the various segments of the community including family, community agencies, related medical services, and the schools.
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)
The AASD offers QPR Gatekeeper Training, a community-wide initiative, in partnership with Lawrence University and J.J. Keller, to all staff.
What is QPR?
- Question – learning how to see the signs of suicidal thoughts and learning to ask the important question – “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” and listening to the answer without bias or alarm
- Persuade – offering the person hope and an alternative solution. Suicide itself is not the problem – it is a perceived only solution by a person in crisis to what they see as an insurmountable problem
- Refer – having the knowledge of how and where to go to help the person get help
District staff also serve on the Community-Wide 'Zero Suicide' Initiative as well as on the Community-Wide 'Question, Persuade, Refer--QPR' Suicide Prevention Initiative in the Valley.
Notification of Youth Suicide Prevention Resources
2023 Required Notice of Youth Suicide Prevention Resources
Suicide Prevention - Laws
Youth Suicide Prevention Resources from DPI
Board Policy 457 Prevention of Youth Suicide
