While May was Mental Health Month, the tragic and shocking suicides of designer Kate Spade and author and television personality Anthony Bourdain this week—and a new report this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing an increase in suicides in almost every state nationwide—have brought the conversation about mental health back to the forefront.

Many fans of both Spade and Bourdain took to social media in the last few days to not only express their feelings and condolences. but to provide hotlines and other numbers where people suffering from mental health issues and thoughts of suicide can go for help.

Nearly 45,000 people died from suicide in 2016, according to the CDC, which also reported that suicide rates have increased in almost every state with half the states reportedly seeing suicide rates increase to more than 30 percent since 1999.

CDC officials said those who committed suicide had experienced situations like relationship problems (42 percent), crisis in the past or upcoming two weeks (29 percent), problematic substance use (28 percent), physical health problem (22 percent), job/financial problem (16 percent), criminal legal problem (9 percent) or loss of housing (4 percent).

The latest County of Los Angeles Public Health report on suicide showed that in 2013 more county residents died from suicide (779) than from unintentional drug overdoses (758), vehicle crashes (711) or homicides (564). The city of Long Beach does not record statistics on suicide.

Though the Long Beach Health and Human Services Department does not currently provide any direct mental health services, according to HHS Executive Assistant Dennis Keith, it does refer individuals to the following organizations:

Long Beach Mental Health (LA County Dept. of Mental Health)
2600 Redondo Avenue, Suite 300, Long Beach
(562) 599-9280

Mental Health Urgent Care
6060 Paramount Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90805
(562) 790-1860

Suicide Prevention Hotline
(800) 784-2433

And while the announced closure of Community Hospital will mean a loss of psychiatric services for the area, here are a few more Long Beach locations, including culturally sensitive sites, individuals can go to for help:

Long Beach Asian Pacific Islander Family Mental Health Center
4510 East Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 600
(562) 346-1100

Jewish Family & Children Services
3801 East Willow Street
(562) 427-7916

The LGBTQ Center Long Beach
2017 East 4th Street
(562) 434-4455

For The Child in Long Beach
4001 Long Beach Boulevard
(562) 427-7671

The Guidance Center
1301 Pine Avenue
(562) 595-1159

For a complete list of locations provided by the city click here.

Editor’s note: Oftentimes, those suffering from depression or thoughts of suicide may not be able to reach out for help. If you believe someone you know may be in trouble, please reach out to them.

The thoughts of everyone at the Long Beach Post are with Spade’s and Bourdain’s families, friends and millions of fans, as well as anyone who is currently struggling with, or has lost a loved one due to mental health issues.

Stephanie Rivera is the community engagement editor. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @StephRivera88.