South Dakota mental health helpline hails surge in calls
RAPID CITY (AP) – A mental health helpline in South Dakota saw a significant surge in calls last year, and its coordinator is hailing the increase a step in the right direction.
Helpline Center saw a 40% increase from 2017 to 2018 in suicide-related calls from Black Hills residents, according to the center’s 2018 annual report, the Rapid City Journal reported. The increase brought last year’s suicide-related calls from Black Hills residents to 460.
“It’s a good thing,” said Audrey Nordine, Black Hills program coordinator with Helpline Center. “Those people (making suicide-related calls) have always existed but now people are reaching out more than ever for themselves and their loved ones.”
The Helpline Center also answers the statewide suicide crisis line. It received a total 2,334 suicide-related calls in 2018, up from 1,831 in 2017.
Read more: https://brookingsregister.com/article/south-dakota-mental-health-helpline-hails-surge-in-calls