I Never Could Talk To You

August 24, 1953 Sylvia Plath tried to commit suicide.

Theme of LA Poetry Beach this year is Sylvia Plath’s ‘I Never Could Talk To You’ and poets from all over the world can submit a poem. We picked this line from Sylvia Plath to give suicidal people inspiration to write about their problems, their depressions, their struggle. Since Sylvia Plath died by suicide in 1963 (60 years ago) it turned her into a crudely tragic symbol. From Virginia Woolf, Anne Sexton to Sarah Kane, everything she did, everything she created during her life becomes part of a death-drive narrative. With this theme we also hope to support people who lost a loved one and give them some relief and solace.

Call one of the numbers below if you have suicidal thoughts

• 911 is the national emergency number in the United States.
• 211 is a phone number in the United States for people in crisis who need emergency referrals to social and community services but are not experiencing an immediate life-threatening emergency. Services available vary by state.^[46]
• The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (http://988lifeline.org/) is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.^[47][48] It provides Spanish-speaking counselors, as well as options for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. It is only available in the United States.^[49] A 24-hour Online Chat in partnership with Contact USA^[50] is also available.
  • The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached at 988.
  • The Lifeline’s previous number, 1–800–273–8255, can still be dialed at anytime.^[51]
  • Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio: 1–888–628–9454
  • Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988^[52]
• The Veterans Crisis Line (https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/) is a 24-hour, toll-free hotline that provides phone, webchat, and text options available to military veterans and their families. It provides options for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
  • The Veterans Crisis Line can be reached at 988 or 1–800–273–8255, followed by Pressing 1
  • The hotline can also be reached by texting to 838255.
  • It can additionally be reached by online chat on the Veterans Crisis Line website.
• IMAlive Crisis Chatline (www.imalive.org) is a non-profit, worldwide 24/7, anonymous chatline to help anyone in crisis via instant messaging.
• The Crisis Text Line (crisistextline.org) is the only 24/7, nationwide crisis-intervention text-message hotline.^[53]
  • The Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting HOME to 741-741.
• Samaritans USA (http://www.samaritansusa.org/) is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in distress or at risk of suicide throughout the United States.^[9]
• The Trevor Project (http://www.thetrevorproject.org/) is a nationwide organization that provides a 24-hour phone hotline, as well as 24-hour webchat and text options, for LGBTQ+ and questioning youth.^[54]
  • The TrevorLifeline can be reached at 1–866–488–7386.
  • TrevorChat can be found at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/
  • TrevorText can be reached by texting START to 678–678
• Trans Lifeline (https://www.translifeline.org/) is a nonprofit organization that is created by and for the transgender community, providing crisis intervention hotlines, staffed by transgender individuals, available in the United States and Canada.
  • The Trans Lifeline can be reached at 1–877–565–8860.^[22]
• The Youthline (https://oregonyouthline.org/) is a free teen-to-teen crisis support and help line run by a nonprofit. Between the hours of 4 -10 pm PST daily, teens are available for peer support via phone and text. Otherwise, the line is staffed by adult crisis responders 24/7.
  • CALL (24/7): 877-968-8491
  • TEXT (4-10 pm PST): ‘teen2teen’ to 839863
  • CHAT (4-10 pm PST) https://oregonyouthline.org/