Crisis Resources

• On-Campus - COD Police, (630) 942-2000  
• Local
  • DuPage County Crisis Services, (630) 627-1700
  • Rape Crisis Hotline, (888) 293-2080 (Chicago and surrounding suburbs)
  • Domestic Violence Hotline, (630) 469-5650  
• National
  • 988 (Lifeline, Chat, text, or call 988
  • Veterans Crisis Line – Call 988 then press 1, text 838255, chat
  •  National Sexual Assault Hotline – Call (800) 656-HOPE, text HOPE to 64673, or chat
  • The Trevor Project – Call (866) 488-7386, text “START” to 678-678, or chat

Many people have thoughts of suicide at some point in their lives. Your feelings may seem overwhelming and like there is no way to find relief. If you are thinking about suicide, you are not alone and help is available.

• Get immediate help.
  • If you think you might attempt suicide, get help immediately by contacting one of the resources on this page, calling 911 or by going to your nearest emergency room.
• Make your environment safe.
  • Remove access to things you might use to harm yourself, including drugs and alcohol.
• Get yourself to a safe place.
• Talk to someone.
  • Call a supportive friend or family member. Often, people who feel suicidal state that they don’t reach out because they don’t want to be a burden to others. Being a supportive friend is rewarding for people and a friend would prefer to be there for you than to have you end your life.
  • Reach out to a mental health professional, your physician or a crisis hotline.
    • DuPage Crisis Line: (630) 627-1700
    • Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741-741
• Distract yourself.
  • Read a book, complete an art project, spend time with a pet, talk with others about their lives, exercise, take a walk outside, watch a favorite movie or television show.
• Create a list of reasons you have for living.
  • This may include a pet, family members, something you enjoy doing, future goals, responsibilities to others or anything that prevents you from acting on those suicidal thoughts.
• Write about the things in your life that you value and appreciate.
• Wait.
  • Make a commitment to give yourself another minute, another hour or another day before you make any decisions. Emotions that are as intense as the ones you're feeling can cloud thinking, making it harder to see possible solutions or available supports. It’s important to remember that the intensity of these feelings will not remain forever.
• Soothe your senses.
  • Listen to calming music, eat a food you enjoy and pay attention to how it tastes and feels in your mouth or use essential oils. Try to engage as many senses as you can at the same time.
• Consider what has helped get your this far.
  • What’s worked in the past when facing similar feelings? It may be reaching out for support, not being alone or writing in a journal.
• Remind yourself:
  • These feelings are temporary.
  • There may not be a simple way to make everything better, but there may be one small thing you can do to take care of yourself.
  • Don’t believe everything you think. Thoughts are just thoughts, they are not facts.
  • You’ve made it this far. You’ve survived. Don’t give up now.

Many people think about suicide because the pain they are feeling outweighs their ability to cope with that pain. Here are some things you can try to help cope:

• Create a safety plan.
  • Having a safety plan will help guide you on what to do to keep yourself safe when experiencing a crisis.
  • Since it can be difficult to think clearly when you feel suicidal, create the safety plan when you’re feeling well and keep it accessible so you can easily reach for it when needed. It can provide comfort and focus during a time when you feel overwhelmed and out of options.
  • Include specific activities that calm and comfort you, ideas you can use to distract yourself, a list of reasons for living, important phone numbers including crisis lines, your mental health professional and/or a trusted friend/family member.
• Make a hope box.
  • Create a box (physical or virtual) that includes things to comfort you when distressed or things to remind you of reasons to live. Some examples include photos, gifts from someone special, notes/cards, essential oils, certificates of past achievements, inspirational messages or puzzles.
• Journal or letter writing.
  • When you are feeling more hopeful and well, write a letter to yourself to read when you are struggling to cope as a reminder that it’s possible to feel better/different and with some notes on what helped you get through it.
• Practice self-compassion.
  • Although we are often compassionate with others, we are much harder and more critical with ourselves. Say something kind to yourself as if you were speaking to a close friend. Acknowledge your suffering and comfort yourself by saying something like, “I’m really struggling right now. It’s not abnormal to feel this way. I’m here for you.” Remember that suffering is something that all human beings experience, so you are not alone.
• Practice deep breathing (View examples from the University of Michigan)
• Mediate: Try this 5-minute video, this 25-minute video by COD counselor, Dr. Dennis Emano. There are many websites that include free mindfulness videos, audios, and scripts, like these: The Free Mindfulness Project, UCLA Meditation and Tara Brach
• Practice regular self-care.
  • Eat a healthy diet, exercise, sleep well, limit alcohol and drugs and maintain healthy relationships.
• Contact your mental health professional, your physician or a crisis resource on this page for help developing new coping strategies.
• Call or text 988 or go to your nearest emergency room to speak with someone immediately if your suicidal thoughts worsen.

• Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• National Suicide Prevention Month
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 
• National Institute of Mental Health 
• Hope for the Day
• The Trevor Project
• Illinois Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention
• National Alliance on Mental Illness