Older Adults & Suicide
Get Help Now
If you or someone you care about is in crisis:
Emergency: Call 911
Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-8255
or Text HEARME to 839863
TTY: 1-800-799-4889
Free • Confidential
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Free 24/7 support
crisistextline.org
Ventura County Crisis & Referral
1-866-998-2243
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
www.vcbh.org
Veterans Crisis Line
Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
veteranscrisisline.net
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
Peer-run Warm Line
Non-emergency emotional support, 24/7
Call 1-855-845-7415
Web chat: mentalhealthsf.org/peer-run-warmline
Additional Resources
Local Resources
Call 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898211
www.211ventura.org
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
