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Oklahoma's suicide prevention hot line getting more calls for help

 
SUSAN SIMPSON | Published: August 6, 2009    Comment on this article Leave a comment

Calls to HeartLine’s suicide prevention hot line are up significantly this year, and many callers report financial woes and economic uncertainty.

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More about suicide prevention
• For information about volunteering with HeartLine, go to www.heartlineoklahoma.org or call 840-9396.


• Out of the Darkness, a fundraising and awareness walk to promote suicide prevention, is planned for 9 a.m. Sept. 12 at the Oklahoma City Zoo. For information, go to www.outofthe darkness.org.

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The number of calls to (800) 273-TALK increased 27 percent for the first half of 2009, from 1,899 calls to 2,413, said Tom Taylor, development and outreach director for HeartLine. The economic downturn is a factor, but more calls is not necessarily bad news.

"It’s actually a good thing that more people are reaching out,” he said.

"Suicide is usually not about ending someone’s life but ending the pain in someone’s life. They get so far into a black hole they feel that’s their only option. We give them options.”

Centers get aid
Calls are confidential, unless there’s imminent danger, so Taylor said he doesn’t know whether callers end up committing suicide. Callers are given information on counselors and treatment centers and can be referred to agencies that help with bills or housing.

Taylor said trained volunteers have been able to keep up with call volume, but he’s hoping HeartLine can qualify for new grants from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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Related Topics: Health and Fitness, Business, Economic Issues, Mental Health, Medical Treatments and Procedures, Suicide, Drug Addiction, Addiction and Recovery, Mental Health Treatments, Economic Crisis, Economies



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