Reaching for the Hand of Support

Today
Chad Myler, M.S., CHES & Laqwanda Roberts-Buckley
Colorful paper cutout figures holding hands with one highlighted in orange displaying 'You Are Not Alone' message, representing community support and connection.

Sometimes the moment can begin with pacing back and forth, staring at the phone, wondering to yourself if you are making the right decision. Finding yourself pausing in the reality of the moment, you pick up the phone and dial 988. For some people, everything around them can feel like a whirlwind, and for others, time can seem to stand still. As the phone rings, one thing is certain: the person on the other end of the phone is ready to offer their hand of support.  

Reaching out for support for yourself or on behalf of someone else is a very brave, but sometimes scary thing to do, and can feel heavy at times. As a former crisis line counselor & emergency mental health therapist, I have first-hand experience hearing the nervousness in someone’s voice when they finally made the call or entered the crisis chat.  

As someone who answered those calls daily, I have seen the direct impact that connecting to resources can have and the difference it can make in someone’s life. Whether I was answering a question, providing clarity, assisting in developing a plan, or making a support connection, the sense of relief often appeared in a person’s voice, realizing that they did not have to carry the weight of things alone.  

As we honor the meaning of Suicide Prevention Month, Life & Work Connections has put together a list of resources as a reminder that support is available. 

Additional Mental Health and Suicide Resources: 

  • 988
    • National 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.  
  • Warmlines
    • A warmline is a phone number you call to have a conversation with someone who can provide support during hard times. Whether you’re in crisis or just need someone to talk to, a warmline can help. Warmlines are staffed by trained peers who have been through their own mental health struggles and know what it’s like to need help.
  • ComPsych
    • Free, confidential, short-term counseling is available to all benefits-eligible University of Arizona employees nationwide, their dependents, and members of their households through ComPsych.
  • CredibleMind
    • CredibleMind is a free one-stop-shop digital platform that provides expert-curated and scientifically backed mental health self-care content. It's available to benefits-eligible employees and their households 24/7.
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
    • AFSP is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education, and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.
  • Resources for difficult times (University of Arizona)
    • The University of Arizona recognizes that employees may face various hardships. This page contains links to community and state-wide resources that may navigating these challenges.