If you are presently in a crisis and/or feeling suicidal, you will find a list of telephone numbers and /or email addresses below of caring volunteers. Though these volunteers have received some training, they are not mental health professionals and are not a substitute for professional assistance. They are not and am not assuming the role of your physician or therapist. They are also not aware of your medical problems and psychiatric diagnoses, which usually has a dramatic effect on medication and other treatment recommendations. You must make a medical and treatment plan with your physician and therapist.

However most of these volunteers have psychiatric diagnoses and have been in the trenches just as you are now. They truly know and understand how much pain you are in. They have been screened and report that they are well into recovery and are stable. You too can find this stability in your life, but right now, let's get you out of crisis and out of risk for self harm.

Feel free to call any one of these people only during the days and hours that they list as being available. Calling them any other time is not acceptable unless you have their direct permission. 

You must call direct. No collect calls will be accepted unless the person's bio states it is ok. Please do not ask the volunteers to call you back unless you read it in their bio.

If you do not own a phone, I suggest buying a "phone card" and using a pay phone or a friend's phone. 

If you are drunk or high you are still encouraged to call if you feel you are at risk of harming yourself. However no abusive behavior will be tolerated and your call will end immediately.

The times listed below are all Eastern Standard Time, United States of America.

24) Eric4207@aol.com 

Hello my name is Eric. I am 32 yrs old. I was first diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder Type 1 when I was 15 yrs old and with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder when I was 22. I know that life can put people in difficult situations that can lead someone to feel trapped in a box with nowhere to go. I spent a lot of time in crisis trying to find the right direction to go and someone to turn to .Once, I took a chance and called a crisis line and found someone who did care and was able to help me and point me in the right direction and here I am today. I still have ups and downs but I have built up a strong support network to get me through the tough times. Now I work in the field as a professional at a local psychiatric facility as a counselor and find it very rewarding because I can help suicidal, desperate and lost people get back on track and find success and happiness in their own lives. I would like to be that person who you can turn to in your time of need. There have actually been a lot of people who have been there for me and I want to give something back. I was able to get my M.Ed in counseling this spring of 2000 and I sometimes teach guitar. 

25) Storm from NY. Email Volunteer. Her email address is: AtWarWSelf@yahoo.com

Hi my name is Storm and I am a 20 year old college student in NY. For years I have been battling depression, in and out of periods of hopelessness. Luckily I have found friends who have supported me through my toughest times, when life seemed pointless and suicide seemed my only escape. 

I last tried to commit suicide 2 years ago, when my world came crashing down with the death of my best friend. I turned to drugs and alcohol to relieve the pain and when nothing worked, death seemed the only answer. I know what pain is because I have felt it and still feel it. I know how it is when the world seems to be suffocating and closing in. We don't need to be lectured on how much we have and how life is precious, sometimes all a person needs is someone to talk to, someone to listen. I hope I can be that person for you. 

Please feel free to email me whenever you'd like, because like you, I too know despair and loneliness, but if we find each other we won't be so alone.

26) My phone number is (630) 897-5421 and my email is taryn@tarynstears.com 

Hi, my name is Taryn. I have been diagnosed with DID (aka MPD), PTSD, and Clinical Depression. I tried several times to kill myself. Almost succeeded a few times. The last attempt was over 5 years ago. 

I grew up in an abusive foster home, married an abusive man, lost a daughter to his abuse, and have had to totally relocate and went into hiding for over 11 years. My life now is good. I am in therapy and under medication so the depression is alleviated for the most part.  I can take calls Sunday - Saturday from 9:00 am till midnight EST) I cannot take calls on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 6:30- 7:30 EST however.  27) Robert: email and phone volunteer. robsafuto@yahoo.com  Hi. My phone number is 512-288-9448. I am available for calls at home usually from Fri-Sun, though my work schedule has me traveling quite a bit. I am available via email every day. I'm 31 years old and I am a professional working in the technology industry. My experience with mental health problems comes from feelings of great loneliness and

insecurity as the youngest child in a sometimes turbulent household situation. 

My dad was an angry guy who often took to beating me when I did something that he thought was wrong. My two brothers were much older than me so they were able to leave home when I was just getting into my teenage years. As I got older my problems with self confidence and self esteem grew worse. I took to drinking at 15 to try to block out my negative thoughts about myself. I continued in a pattern of depression until I was about twenty-two years old. During that time I never attempted suicide or even thought about it consciously, but my reckless behavior, including drinking and driving, leads me to believe that I didn't feel my life was worth a thing. 

Something clicked inside my head during my early twenties and I began to focus myself more in the present. I quit the job that I hated and severely cut back on drinking. I began a program of physical fitness and healthy eating. I somehow realized that I had to face my fears about the world and myself. Years went past and unfortunately those same fears and doubts about myself have been trying to creep back into my life. Coincidentally, over the last several months my youngest niece has been battling severe anxiety and depression. Although I am able to stay positive through reading and my friends, she is not at that level of awareness yet. 

In any case, I want to help people to overcome their negative thoughts and hopeless attitudes. I've been there and back so I know people can have hope if someone is willing to listen to them and provide them caring guidance on living this life.

29) Katie - Email only volunteer. Katiebear927@yahoo.com 

i have had major depression w/ suicidal attempts and borderline personality disorder. my first depressive episode started when i was in middle school and have had 2 others since, each lasting from 1-3 years. my last one was a year ago, when i was in a very competitive university.

my suicidal attempts were mainly overdosing on pain medication, or anything i could find lying around the house. i also experienced some self mutilation when i continually cut my arms when under stress. this support that has been building up around me from friends and my therapists has helped me deal with the depression that is also common among many of my family members (including my mother, my sister, and my uncle). 

i am now back at college, studying to be a psychology and neuroscience major. my grades have improved and i no longer feel pressured to be someone who i am not. 

Executive Director: Tim Pheil L.P.N. (Silent Partner)
Director:  Susan E. Stanley (Contact, Active Director)

All material not explicitly credited otherwise is Copyright © 2000 - 2001, Tim Pheil L.P.N. from Mental Health Sanctuary and Susan E. Stanley, Director. All Rights Reserved. It may not be duplicated without permission.