Though 19-year-old Emma only recently called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for help, she had struggled with suicidal thoughts from age 11. They were always in the corner of her mind. She had started to feel numb to them.

Emma's call to the suicide line was answered by Zoey, an intervention specialist trained in providing trauma informed care.

Emma shared that while she had never attempted to kill herself, her suicidal thoughts were a constant part of her life and she was beginning to lose hope of finding support or relief. Zoey calmed Emma, validated her feelings, and pointed out how brave she was for taking the difficult step of reaching out for help.

Zoey and Emma discussed building a safety plan and how beneficial it could be for someone consistently having thoughts of suicide. Part of Emma's safety plan included counseling, and Zoey immediately provided resources. She also suggested Emma work with a Crisis Center care coordinator, who would follow up with her to ensure she accessed the services she needed.

By the end of the call, Emma felt confident about having established a plan for long-term support for herself. She is still working with a care coordinator, but after eight years of struggling with her thoughts, Emma finally has hope.