sfsuicide.org

San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP) is a crisis-support service that has provided emotional support in San Francisco since 1962. It operates 24/7 confidential hotlines and textlines, runs community programs such as grief support and youth risk reduction, and is part of the Felton Institute. It is staffed largely by volunteers—more than 200 of them—and answers about 55,000 calls a year. If you or someone in San Francisco needs immediate emotional support, the main crisis line is 415-781-0500, available every day of the year.

Who runs it and how it works

SFSP describes itself as part of the Felton Institute, and its job listings sit in Felton's Adult Division section. The service model is volunteer-driven: trained volunteers staff the crisis lines and textlines. The organization frames its mission around San Francisco's diverse communities and around the idea that suicide prevention is about both knowledge and intervention—which is why it pairs direct crisis response with outreach and training.

Ways to reach someone

The site lists several lines, each aimed at a different need. All of the hotlines are described as confidential and available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Textlines

The Crisis Support Textlines offer emotional support by text. According to the site, they are free, 100% confidential, available 24/7, and staffed by trained volunteers. To reach a counselor, text one of three keywords to (415) 200-2920:

• CRISIS — general crisis support
• YOUTH — support for young people
• HIV — support related to HIV

The keyword you send routes you to the appropriate counselor, so choose the one that matches your situation.

Programs beyond the phone lines

SFSP's programs extend past immediate crisis response:

• Grief Support Group — peer-based, in-person services tailored to people processing a loss by suicide, described as "this very specific type of loss."
• Youth Risk Reduction — the Youth Outreach Coordinator runs in-school workshops that give San Francisco students prevention tools.
• Community Outreach — onsite visits that raise awareness about suicide and provide training in crisis intervention and de-escalation.

Getting involved

The site offers three routes for people who want to support the work: making a charitable donation, becoming a volunteer (the site points to volunteering opportunities for suicide prevention), and applying for jobs through the Felton Institute Career Page, where SFSP roles appear in the Adult Division section.

When to use which option

• In immediate distress — call the 24/7 Crisis Line at 415-781-0500, or dial 988 for the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
• Prefer not to talk on the phone — text CRISIS, YOUTH, or HIV to (415) 200-2920.
• Need HIV-specific or substance-related support — use the HIV Nightline, Drug Info Line, or Relapse Line numbers above.
• Grieving a suicide loss — look into the Grief Support Group.
• Want training or to volunteer — explore the Community Outreach and volunteer pages.

The site also links to an About page, an FAQ page, and resources about 988 for readers who want more detail before reaching out.

Yes. San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP), part of the Felton Institute, describes its crisis hotlines and textlines as free, confidential, and available 24/7, 365 days a year. The textlines are explicitly labeled "FREE, 100% confidential" and are staffed by trained volunteers. If you are in crisis or want emotional support, you can call (415) 781-0500 or text CRISIS, YOUTH, or HIV to (415) 200-2920 at any hour.

What "free and confidential" covers

• Cost: The site describes the crisis lines and textlines as free. No payment or insurance information is requested on the page.
• Confidentiality: The hotlines are described as confidential, and the textlines as "100% confidential."
• Availability: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — including holidays.
• Who answers: Trained volunteers, supported by an organization that has provided emotional support in San Francisco since 1962 and answers about 55,000 calls annually.

Ways to reach SFSP

What to expect when you reach out

The page does not describe a script or intake process, but it does state the purpose: emotional support from trained volunteers. A reasonable expectation, based on how crisis lines are generally run and on SFSP's description, is that you can talk or text about what you are facing without being asked to pay or identify yourself publicly. If a specific concern matters to you — for example, whether any identifying details are recorded — ask the volunteer directly at the start of the contact; the page itself does not spell out record-keeping practices.

Specialized lines for specific concerns

SFSP separates some concerns onto dedicated lines rather than routing everything through the main crisis number:

• HIV: two Nightline numbers, one local and one toll-free, plus the HIV text keyword.
• Drug information: a dedicated Drug Info Line.
• Relapse: a Relapse Line for people worried about returning to substance use.
• Youth: a YOUTH text keyword, alongside in-school prevention workshops run by a Youth Outreach Coordinator.

If your concern fits one of these, using the matching line or keyword may connect you with someone focused on that area.

Beyond the phone: other SFSP programs

• Grief Support Group: peer-based, in-person support specifically for people processing a loss by suicide.
• Youth Risk Reduction: in-school workshops providing prevention tools to San Francisco students.
• Community Outreach: onsite visits that raise awareness about suicide and train people in crisis intervention and de-escalation.

If you are unsure whether to call

The page's core message is that help is always available — "We are here for you 24/7, 365 days a year." You do not need to be in immediate danger to use the line; the textlines are described as emotional support, which suggests they are appropriate for distress that has not reached an emergency. If you are in immediate danger, calling 988 or 911 is the standard guidance, and SFSP lists 988 among its contact options.

For questions about the organization itself, the site offers an About Us page, an FAQ page, and a Resources section that includes information about 988.

San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP), part of the Felton Institute, offers three ways to get involved: volunteer, donate, or apply for a job. The site points volunteers to a dedicated "Volunteer Information" page, donors to a "Ways to Donate" page, and job seekers to the Felton Institute Career Page, where SFSP roles appear in the Adult Division section. The organization says it works with 200+ volunteers and answers about 55,000 calls annually, which gives a sense of the scale your time or money supports.

Volunteer

SFSP describes volunteering as a way to "make a difference today" and directs interested people to its Volunteer Information page for current opportunities. The site does not list specific volunteer roles, training requirements, time commitments, or application steps on the page reviewed, so treat the Volunteer Information page as the starting point and confirm details there before planning around them.

One relevant context clue: the crisis textlines are described as staffed by trained volunteers, and the hotlines operate 24/7, 365 days a year. That suggests volunteer work is tied to around-the-clock coverage, but the site does not state which roles are volunteer-staffed or what training is provided. Ask about scheduling, training, and supervision when you inquire.

Donate

The site's "Make a Charitable Donation" section frames giving simply: "We can all help prevent suicide." A "Ways to Donate" link is provided for donation options. The page reviewed does not list payment methods, suggested amounts, recurring-gift options, or tax-deduction details, so check the Ways to Donate page for the specifics rather than assuming any particular method is available.

Work at SFSP

For employment, the site directs candidates to Felton Institute's Career Page and notes that SFSP jobs are listed in the Adult Division section. That division detail is the practical step: when you reach the career page, look under Adult Division rather than searching the whole site blindly. The page does not list current openings, salary ranges, or hiring timelines, so the career page is the authoritative source for what is open now.

Choosing Between the Three

If your goal is direct involvement with people in crisis, volunteering is the closest fit the site describes. If you want to support the 24/7 hotlines and textlines without a time commitment, donating is the direct route. If you are looking for paid work, go straight to the Felton career page and filter to Adult Division.

Before You Commit

• Verify current status. Opportunities and donation options can change; the linked pages are the source of truth.
• Ask about training. The site says textlines are staffed by trained volunteers but does not detail the training, so confirm it directly.
• Check the career page for actual postings. The Adult Division note tells you where to look, not what is open.

For immediate crisis help rather than involvement, the site lists its 24/7 Crisis Line at (415) 781-0500 and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (dial 988).

San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP), part of the Felton Institute, runs confidential 24/7 hotlines and textlines. If you need help now, call the main crisis line at 415-781-0500, or dial 988 for the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For text support, send CRISIS, YOUTH, or HIV to (415) 200-2920. All of these lines are described as free, confidential, and available 24/7, 365 days a year, staffed by trained volunteers.

Phone Lines by Need

Textlines

SFSP's Crisis Support Textlines provide emotional support by text. They are free, 100% confidential, available 24/7, and staffed by trained volunteers. Text one of the following keywords to (415) 200-2920:

• CRISIS — general emotional support
• YOUTH — youth-focused support
• HIV — HIV-related support

Beyond the Hotlines

SFSP also offers in-person and community programs: a peer-based Grief Support Group for people processing a loss by suicide, Youth Risk Reduction workshops in San Francisco schools run by a Youth Outreach Coordinator, and Community Outreach that provides training in crisis intervention and de-escalation. The organization has operated since 1962 with more than 200 volunteers and answers about 55,000 calls a year.

Choosing the Right Line

• In immediate crisis or unsure where to start: call 415-781-0500 or dial 988.
• Prefer texting: text CRISIS to (415) 200-2920.
• Young person seeking support: text YOUTH.
• HIV-related concerns: call the HIV Nightline or text HIV.
• Deaf or hard of hearing: use the TTY line at (415) 227-0245.
• Substance-related concerns: call the Drug Info Line or Relapse Line.

For more detail on programs, volunteering, or donations, the site links to an About Us page, an FAQ page, and a resources section on 988.

San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP), part of the Felton Institute, offers four main services beyond its 24-hour phone hotlines: a Grief Support Group, Youth Risk Reduction workshops, Community Outreach training, and Crisis Support Textlines. The textlines are the closest substitute for a phone call, while the other three are ongoing programs rather than on-demand crisis services. If you need to talk to someone right now, use a hotline or textline; if you are looking for loss support, school-based prevention, or community training, the program pages below are the place to start.

Crisis Support Textlines: A Non-Phone Option

For people who find calling difficult, SFSP runs text-based support lines. According to the site, these lines are free, confidential, available 24/7, and staffed by trained volunteers.

• How to use it: Text CRISIS, YOUTH, or HIV to (415) 200-2920 to reach a counselor.
• What to expect: Emotional support by text rather than a voice call. The site describes the lines as free and 100% confidential.
• When to choose it: You want real-time support but prefer not to speak on the phone. For urgent risk, the 24/7 phone lines remain the primary route: the main crisis line is (415) 781-0500, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is reachable by dialing 988.

Grief Support Group

This is a peer-based, in-person service for people processing a specific kind of loss: bereavement after a suicide. The site describes the group as tailored to those dealing with this particular type of loss.

• Format: In-person, peer-led support.
• Best fit: You have lost someone to suicide and want to be with others who have experienced the same loss.
• Next step: Use the "Learn More" link on the Grief Support Group section of the homepage for current details, since meeting times and locations are not listed in the page excerpt.

Youth Risk Reduction

SFSP's Youth Outreach Coordinator delivers in-school workshops that give students prevention tools. The program is aimed at San Francisco schools.

• Format: Workshops delivered inside schools by the Youth Outreach Coordinator.
• Audience: Students in San Francisco.
• Best fit: A school or youth group that wants structured prevention education rather than crisis response.
• Next step: Contact SFSP through the site to discuss bringing workshops to a school.

Community Outreach

This program raises awareness about suicide and provides training in crisis intervention and de-escalation through onsite visits.

• Format: Onsite visits to organizations and community groups.
• Content: Suicide awareness plus practical training in crisis intervention and de-escalation.
• Best fit: Workplaces, community organizations, or groups that want staff or members trained to respond when someone is in crisis.
• Next step: Reach out via the site to arrange an onsite visit.

Choosing the Right Program

Getting Involved Beyond Receiving Help

The site also lists ways to support the organization: making a charitable donation, becoming a volunteer (SFSP works with 200+ volunteers and answers about 55,000 calls a year), and applying for jobs through the Felton Institute careers page, where SFSP roles appear in the Adult Division section.