If you are thinking about harming yourself, or if you or someone you know is experiencing distress, depression, relationship problems, suicidal thoughts, or substance use problems, contact one of the following supports right away. A trained responder will answer your call or text message. The responder will ask questions about the current situation and connect you with appropriate resources. Most lifelines are free, confidential, and available for you at any time. If there is immediate danger, dial 911.
988
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. Call or text 988.
Text HOME to 741741
The Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis and available anywhere in the United States, anytime. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from a secure online platform.
Call 211
The Helpline Center in South Dakota can be contacted for information and support – whether financial, family, health, or disaster-related. The call or text is free and confidential.
This downloadable PDF provides a list of resources that are a starting point to educating oneself and getting connected after the loss of a loved one to suicide. It was compiled by Survivors Joining for Hope staff. The list includes general information about grief and losing a loved one to suicide, as well as a list of places to find support.
This downloadable booklet (36 small pages) is “for people who have lost a loved one to suicide, written by someone who has suffered the same loss.” It provides an overview for suicide survivors, addressing topics such as the roller coaster of emotions that make suicide different from the grief of other kinds of deaths.
A downloadable resource and healing guide created by the Helpline Center and SD Behavioral Health Services offering practical support and guidance through your grief journey.
If you’re looking to improve your mental health and resilience, finding a clinician you can count on is a great strategy. Mental health clinicians include counselors or therapists (someone you can talk to) and include psychiatrists (someone to help manage medications upon referral from a primary doctor).
If you are seeking help for mental health or behavioral health in South Dakota, you can use the Helpline Center’s 2-1-1 search tool. This resource requires you to enter your zip code or city and separate needs by category. Categories include mental health where you can choose individual counseling or psychiatry to find a clinician nearest you.
Psychology Today allows you to search for therapists, psychiatrists, treatment centers, support groups, and teletherapy resources in any state. You can search by your location and by your insurance coverage if applicable. Psychology Today provides clinician biographies, so you are able to get a sense of the person you hope to work with before meeting them.
The internet is a great place to find a plethora of resources related to mental health, suicide prevention, and resilience. Here are a few recommended links that can help you build resilience for self, others, and communities.
South Dakota has established a state workgroup focused on improving suicide prevention efforts. The workgroup has developed a strategic plan and sets priorities for each new year. Learn about South Dakota’s plan to reduce deaths by suicide here.
To learn more about suicide prevention in general, visit the nationwide Suicide Prevention Resource Center. The article linked here reviews a scholarly article, “Improving Suicide Prevention Through Evidence-Based Strategies: A Systematic Review”. Overall, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center houses information and links to suicide prevention efforts happening across the United States.
The CDC has outlined prevention and protective strategies for combatting suicide. These strategies are evidence-based and address necessary public health efforts for all levels of society. The CDC’s suicide prevention strategies include strengthen economic supports, strengthen access and delivery of suicide care, create protective environments, promote connectedness, teach coping and problem-solving skills, identify and support people at risk, lessen harms and prevent future risk.
Some populations may be at increased risk for mental illness and suicide related to trauma, oppression, and adversity. Here we have a list of special populations and resources that may be helpful to combatting challenges the population faces.
College & University Students
This section of the South Dakota Suicide Prevention website focuses on college students and their risk of suicide, as suicide is the second-leading cause of death in college age students. It provides a list of resources for college students on their college campuses.
College & University Students
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center works to combat suicide in college students by providing them with resources and educating colleges on how to approach suicide prevention and access to mental health resources.
College & University Students
ULifeline is an online resource for college students on how to learn how to identify a mental health crisis, what your campus has to offer for mental health resources, and how to help a friend with their mental health.
College & University Students
This website provides colleges and universities guides and protocols surrounding mental health. This includes suicide prevention, cultural responsiveness, veteran resources, crisis protocol, and postvention protocol.
College & University Students
This is a resource for higher education with regard to response to a suicide on college campuses. Their goal is for college campuses to be better prepared to manage the death of a student by suicide.
LGBTQIA and Two-Spirit+ Individuals
This website page defines what 2S “two-spirit” means and addresses the misconceptions. Two-spirit is a third gender identity that has been a part of Native American cultures since the early 1900s.
LGBTQIA and Two-Spirit+ Individuals
This document provides guidance on how to have difficult conversations surrounding the LGBTQ2S+ community and other intersectional conversations. It also directs people to the Trevor Project, which is a leading national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQIA2S+ people.
LGBTQIA and Two-Spirit+ Individuals
The Trevor Project’s “Coming Out Handbook” provides guidance on how to explore your identity, as well as guidance on how to come out and maintain healthy relationships.
LGBTQIA and Two-Spirit+ Individuals
This section of the South Dakota Suicide Prevention website focuses on the LGBTQIA2S+ community and their increased risk of suicide, especially in times of high stress such as “coming out.” It offers national and state resources for support services and crisis interventions.
LGBTQIA and Two-Spirit+ Individuals
This section of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website provides information for an individual or family members to help loved ones who are in the LGBTQIA2S+ community and are struggling with their mental health.
Youth (under age 18)
The Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention, created by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), provides a thorough plan for school districts to implement suicide prevention policies in their community.
Youth (under age 18)
This resource focuses on the mental health resources and struggles of youth and young adults and how to help yourself and others around you.
© 2025 Lost&Found
