Suicide Prevention: you are not alone.
If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available right now. This page explains how to get immediate help, recognize warning signs, support someone you are worried about, and make a safety plan. You do not have to have the right words; you just have to reach out.
In immediate danger? Call 911. You can also reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline online any time.
Reach out right now
Any of these will connect you with a real person.
More options on Need Help Right Now.
Warning signs
Signs that someone may need support.
Suicide is rarely caused by one thing, and warning signs are not always obvious. Trust your gut. If something feels off with someone you care about, it is worth a gentle check-in. You do not need to be certain to act: asking about suicide does not put the idea in someone’s head; it opens a door to support. Take these seriously:
- Talking about wanting to die, being a burden, or having no reason to live.
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities they used to enjoy.
- Big changes in mood, sleep, or eating, or increased use of alcohol or drugs.
- Giving away belongings, saying goodbye, or putting affairs in order.
- Extreme hopelessness, rage, or sudden calm after a period of deep distress.
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
If you are worried about someone.
Your care can make a real difference. You do not need to be an expert. These steps help you show up well.
Say things like
I am here. You matter to me. We will get through this together.
Try to avoid
Minimizing their pain, arguing, promising to keep it a secret, or acting shocked.
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Ask directly
Calmly ask if they are thinking about suicide. Being direct shows you care and can handle the answer. Asking does not put the idea in someone’s head; it opens a door to support.
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Listen without judgment
Let them talk. You do not have to fix it or have answers. Being present matters most.
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Stay with them
If they are in danger, do not leave them alone, and help remove access to things that could be used for harm.
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Connect them to help
Call or text 988 together, or help them reach a professional or the Warm Line.
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Follow up
Check back in the days after. Staying connected shows they matter and reduces risk.
A simple plan for hard moments.
A safety plan is a simple, written plan that helps you stay safe during hard moments. You can make one with a counselor, a trusted person, or on your own, and keep it somewhere easy to reach. It usually includes these steps:
- Recognize your warning signs: the thoughts, feelings, or situations that signal a hard moment is coming.
- List coping strategies you can do on your own: things that calm or distract you, even briefly.
- Name people and places that help you feel connected and can take your mind off the pain.
- List people you can reach out to for help: trusted friends or family members.
- Write down professionals and crisis lines: your counselor, 988, and the Warm Line at (316) 260-2340.
- Make your environment safer: with help, reduce access to things that could be used for harm.
- Remember your reasons for living: the people, values, or hopes worth staying for.
988 counselors can also help you make a plan any time. Our approach follows recognized safety-planning guidance and the Zero Suicide Institute.
Mental Health First Aid
Training that helps people step in sooner.
MHASCK offers Mental Health First Aid training for schools, workplaces and community groups. It teaches everyday people to recognize the warning signs of distress and suicide risk, respond safely, and connect someone to help. You do not need to be a clinician to take part.
Bring a training to your group
Our prevention team schedules Mental Health First Aid and suicide prevention sessions for schools, workplaces and community groups.
Zero Suicide
Care that takes your safety seriously.
Zero Suicide is a quality improvement model that transforms system-wide suicide prevention and care to save lives. At MHASCK, it means we screen thoughtfully, respond with compassion, plan for safety, and stay connected with the people we serve, so no one who reaches out falls through the cracks.
The questions we hear most.
Answered simply and directly, for anyone touched by suicide risk.
What should I say to someone I am worried about?
Be direct and caring. Ask plainly if they are thinking about suicide, then listen without judging or trying to fix it. Say things like I am here and you matter to me. You do not need perfect words; showing up with warmth and honesty matters far more than saying the exact right thing.
What is the difference between 988 and the Warm Line?
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is the national crisis line, available any time by call or text for a crisis or suicidal thoughts. The MHASCK Warm Line at (316) 260-2340 is for non-crisis peer support, Every day, 5 to 11 PM, when you just need someone to talk to before things reach a crisis.
Is this page only for people in crisis right now?
No. This page is for anyone touched by suicide risk: people struggling, worried friends and family, and those wanting to learn the warning signs. If you are in crisis right now, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Otherwise, use this page to understand how to help and how to plan for safety.
What is a safety plan and how do I make one?
A safety plan is a simple written plan for staying safe in hard moments, listing your warning signs, coping strategies, supportive people, and crisis contacts like 988. You can make one with a counselor, a trusted person, or on your own. Reach out and we can help you build one.
What is Zero Suicide?
Zero Suicide is a quality improvement model that transforms system-wide suicide prevention and care to save lives. For MHASCK it means thoughtful screening, compassionate response, safety planning, and staying connected with the people we serve.
Is calling 988 confidential?
Yes, 988 is free and confidential. You can call or text any time to talk with a trained counselor. They are there to listen and help you through the moment, not to judge you. Reaching out is a sign of strength, and you can share as much or as little as you want.
What if there is immediate danger to life?
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 right away. Stay with the person if you safely can, and help remove access to anything that could be used for harm. For urgent mental health support that is not an immediate emergency, call or text 988.
How do I help someone who does not want help?
Keep showing up. You cannot force someone to accept help, but your steady care matters. Listen, stay connected, and gently keep the door open. You can also call 988 yourself for guidance on supporting them, and involve others who care about them when appropriate.
Are these services free?
988 is free and confidential, and the MHASCK Warm Line is free to call. For ongoing care, MHASCK accepts Kansas Medicaid and offers sliding scale fees, so cost does not have to be a barrier. Reach out and we will help you understand your options for support.
What warning signs should I take seriously?
Take seriously any talk of wanting to die or being a burden, withdrawing from others, big changes in mood or sleep, giving away belongings, increased substance use, or sudden calm after deep distress. You do not need to be certain. If something feels off, ask directly and connect them to help.
Help is available, right now.
Whatever you are carrying, this moment can pass, and support is here. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline any time, call 911 if there is immediate danger, or reach our Warm Line at (316) 260-2340 (Every day, 5 to 11 PM) for non-crisis peer support. Ready for more than one call? Connect with ongoing care.
