Crisis Line
The Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands answers calls routed to us by the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Samaritans-trained staff and volunteers are available to answer calls 24/7/365. Anyone is welcome to call to receive non-judgmental, compassionate support.
People sometimes worry they shouldn’t call the Crisis Line if they are not suicidal. You do not have to be suicidal to call. Some callers feel overwhelmed, sad, or lonely. Others feel angry or confused. Some may feel they have nowhere else to turn. Simply needing a safe space to talk is reason enough to pick up the phone – there is never a bad time to call.
You can also call the Crisis Line if you’re worried about someone in your life. When you call our Crisis Line, our Samaritans-trained call-taker will ask you a few questions to gain understanding of your situation and focus on ways you can help them find local support. They may suggest the caller give the person our phone number and encourage them to call. Ultimately, your loved one must decide whether they personally want to seek help. It can be scary when a friend or loved one is thinking of suicide, but there is hope. Please call our Crisis Line at any time for help if someone you love is struggling.
If you’re in crisis, need support, or are looking for a place to share with someone who will listen wholeheartedly, please don’t hesitate to call us by dialing 988.
Confidentiality Policy
Callers can rest assured that all calls to The Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands are free and completely confidential within our organization. However, if after a thorough conversation with you about your situation the volunteer thinks you are at imminent risk of harming yourself or someone else, the call-taker will bring an on-call supervisor into the conversation to assist in trying to help you. We will always seek to collaborate with you to keep you safe but, if necessary and as a last resort, the on-call supervisor may access your phone number for the purpose of initiating an active rescue by calling an emergency services provider or 911 on your behalf. On-call supervisors will only undertake such an initiative if they believe that, without this intervention, you or someone else are likely to sustain a life-threatening injury.
For more information about our Crisis Line, please contact us at crisisservices@capesamaritans.org
Important Information about 988
As of July 16th, 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), transitioned to a three digit number, 988. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is intended to create an ease of access to care and improve mental health response. As an accredited 988 Lifeline call center, The Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands answers calls to this line 24/7/365. We are here to provide you with free and confidential emotional support.