San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP)

San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP) provides 24/7 emotional support on all our confidential hotlines. Serving the community with compassion and care, SFSP offers educational trainings on prevention and crisis intervention for organizations and schools and peer led grief support groups for those who have lost someone to suicide.

SFSP Crisis Line button

 

San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP) provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention services. Founded in 1962 by Bernard Mayes, SFSP is the oldest community-based telephone crisis center in the United States. With the support of over 200 volunteers and staff, SFSP is available to help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

SFSP’s Crisis Line assists those experiencing or at risk of a crisis, with the goal of reducing suicides and self-destructive behaviors. Our hotline programs include HIV Nightline, Drug Info Line, Relapse Line and a Crisis Support Text line. In addition, we offer educational prevention and intervention trainings for organizations and schools and a peer led grief support group for loss survivors.

SFSP merged into Felton Institute in 2019, bringing together two of the most enduring mental health and crisis intervention agencies in Northern California. The partnership provides continuous care and services for people in crisis and emotional distress.

Anyone can call our crisis line, but those who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or concerned about someone else are prioritized and highly encouraged to call or text SFSP.

While we receive and accept calls from anyone, we are the designated suicide prevention crisis line center for San Francisco County. Our HIV Nightline is available nationally. 

SFSP answers 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline calls for San Francisco.

For more information, visit the SFSP Website.

24-Hour Emergency Hotlines

San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP) Hotline Red Phone

Help is always available on San Francisco Suicide Prevention’s Confidential Hotlines. We are here for you 24/7, 365 days a year!

For more information, visit the SFSP Website.

Mission & History

The mission of San Francisco Suicide Prevention is to provide emotional support, education, assistance, and intervention as necessary to all persons in crisis and those impacted by them, with the goal of reducing suicides and self-destructive behaviors.

In 1962, San Francisco Suicide Prevention started in a basement apartment on Polk St., below a tattoo parlor with six volunteers, all personally trained by Bernard Mayes, the agency’s founder.

Programs

San Francisco Suicide Prevention is here to help 24 hours a day, every day of the week.  We offer many programs to help you reduce emotional pain and to learn how to help yourself and your friends and family through crisis. Our programs enable us to help people de-escalate and assist those who are at risk of feeling suicidal.

If you have any questions about any of SFSP’s programs and services, please call our administrative office at (415) 984-1900 and visit the SFSP Website.

Volunteer With Us!

Currently, you must be 20 years old or older to volunteer as a hotline counselor. You do not need to have previous experience; we provide comprehensive training and mentorship before you can answer calls on the lines.

We accept volunteer applications on a rolling basis and start new cohorts 5-6 times a year. Each cohort will meet in person on Saturdays to receive didactic trainings from staff; mentorship times are based on you and your mentor’s schedule. 

For more information and to apply, please visit the SFSP Website.

About The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a nation-wide hotline for those experiencing a mental health crisis. The Lifeline provides 24/7 access to phone, chat, and text support for suicidal ideation, mental health crisis, and/or substance use related issues. 988 is a new quicker number to dial if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health, substance use or suicidal crisis.

Felton Institute’s San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP), the oldest community-based telephone crisis hotline in the United States, has been partnered with Lifeline for the last 10-15 years and will continue to answer local calls and chats that come in from 988.

Additional Information:

  • 988 is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
  • 988 Interpretative services are available in over 250 languages.
  • 988 does not replace the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number: 1 (800) 273 8255. Both hotlines will connect the caller to their local crisis center, including SFSP.

Ways to Connect to 988:

  • Call: When a person calls 988, a trained crisis counselor will listen and assess for suicide and safety concerns, provide support, share resources, and link the caller to behavioral health services or 911 if there is immediate danger to self or others. If someone is worried about a loved one who may be experiencing a mental health crisis, they can also call 988.
  • Chat: Chat (English only) is available through the Lifeline’s website at 988lifeline.org/chat. People seeking chat services are provided a pre-chat survey before connecting with a counselor, who identifies the main area of concern. If there is a wait to chat with a crisis counselor, a wait-time message will appear. Once you are connected, a crisis counselor listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources that may be helpful.
  • Text: When someone texts 988, they are responded to by a group of Lifeline crisis centers that answer both chats and texts. Once you are connected, a crisis counselor listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources that may be helpful. Currently, texting is available in English only.

For more information about 988:

Interested in Volunteering?

Learn more about being a hotline counselor.

Visit the SFSP Website to Apply

OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION

Office Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Are you looking for information about our programs, training and presentations, educational materials, support groups, and other resources? If so please reach out to our supportive staff during standard 9 AM – 5 PM Monday to Friday business hours.

For crisis situations, you can reach us 24/7 through our crisis hotline and textline services.

GENERAL EMAIL (M-F, 9 AM – 5 PM)
Email: sfsuicide@felton.org

PHONE
24/7 Crisis Line: (415) 781-0500
Business: (415) 984-1900
TTY: (415) 227-0245
Fax: (415) 227-0247

MAILING ADDRESS
San Francisco Suicide Prevention,
P.O. Box 191350,
San Francisco, CA 94119