Samaritans has been a leader in advocating for and advancing suicide prevention, education and support programs and services throughout the world since the early 1950’s and in the U.S. on a national and regional level since the mid-1980’s. In addition to our work with the international Samaritans network that is comprised of 400 centers operating in 42 countries and the World Health Organization (WHO), Samaritans is one of the 12 founding members of the National Council for Suicide Prevention (NCSP), the national organization comprised of the country’s leading non-profit suicide prevention education, research and advocacy groups. We worked with (then) US Surgeon General David Satcher in developing the U.S.’s first National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (published in 2001; revised and updated in 2013).

“Suicide is very real. It’s hard to talk about but can’t be ignored. Change comes from acknowledgement and is essential for prevention.” A Friend of Samaritans, after the loss of a loved one to suicide

Focusing on Those In Need of Help

Recognizing that many of those who were highest risk for suicide were not receiving the services they needed or lived in communities where it was difficult to access services, Samaritans has visited hundreds of sites throughout NYC working with community organizations and neighborhood groups to de-stigmatize suicide and provide free education, training and information on important resources.

Samaritans advocates for and provides education and support services to all at-risk groups, including: homeless and the unemployed; individuals struggling with alcohol and substance abuse; victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and bullying; those living with chronic and terminal illnesses like cancer, Alzheimer’s and AIDS; members of the LGBTQ community; the elderly and at-risk youth; Latina and Asian adolescents; etc.

Going Where We Are Needed

Samaritans has taken its programs and services into schools, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, psychiatric wards, homeless shelters, settlement houses and prison facilities; anywhere that those at-risk and the people who try to help them are gathered—frequently providing services for free to those community organizations that do not have the funding to access them.

Free Education Materials and Resources

Samaritans develops and distributes free education materials, caregiver guidelines, identification and assessment tools, print and online resource information that can be accessed by anyone who is responding to an individual who is depressed, in crisis or suicidal. In 2012, Samaritans launched our NYC Guide to Suicide Prevention, Resources and Services which provides an easily accessible, comprehensive overview of what to look for, how to respond and where to get help in NYC.

To download a free copy of the NYC Guide to Suicide Prevention, Resources and Services, click here.

For additional resources on suicide-related topics, trends and at-risk populations, click here.

To learn more about the programs provided by the Samaritans of New York, click here.