Older Adults & Suicide
Get Help Now
If you or someone you care about is in crisis:
Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800-273-8255
Free • Confidential
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Crisis Text Service:
Text the word "HEARME" to the number 839863.
Veterans Crisis Line:
Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
veteranscrisisline.net
Ventura County Crisis Team:
1-866-998-2243
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Emergency: Call 911
Suicide Prevention App: My3App.org
Local resources: Call 2-1-1, visit www.211ventura.org or text your zip code to 898211.
Learn to help prevent suicide:
safeTALK Suicide Alertness Classes:
Free, 3-hour training sessions for schools and community members
Click here to learn more.
Feeling lonely or isolated?
Call the Senior Support Line:
1-800-235-9980
Resources for older adults:
Ventura County Area Agency on Aging: (805) 477-7300 or www.ventura.org/vcaaa
DID YOU KNOW?
- Older men die by suicide at a rate that is more than 7x higher than that of older women.
- The incidence of suicide is particularly high among older, white males.
- Older women may also be at risk for suicide, especially if lonely or dealing with chronic pain.
IS SOMEONE YOU KNOW AT RISK?
Risk factors for older adults include:
- Recent death of a loved one
- Physical illness, disability, or pain
- Isolation and loneliness
- Major life changes, such as retirement
- Loss of independence
- Loss of sense of purpose
KNOW THE SIGNS
- Talking about wanting to die or having no reason to live
- Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as buying a gun
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Saying goodbye or giving away possessions
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated
- Displaying extreme mood swings
Wellness Every Day
Promoting Mental Health in Ventura County
