THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE IOWA CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS SAYS WHILE THE 9-8-8 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE HAS MELTED DOWN IN SOME STATES, THAT HASN’T BEEN THE CASE HERE.
PEGGY HUPPERT SAYS THAT’S BECAUSE THE TWO CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES IN EASTERN IOWA THAT HAVE BEEN HANDLING 9-8-8 SINCE IT LAUNCHED IN JULY HAD BEEN FIELDING SUICIDE PREVENTION CALLS AND TEXTS FOR SOME TIME.
MENT1 OC….STATE :10
FOUNDATION 2 CRISIS SERVICES IN CEDAR RAPIDS IS HANDLING IOWA PHONE CALLS TO 9-8-8. COMMUNITY CRISIS SERVICES IN IOWA CITY IS HANDLING TEXT MESSAGES TO 9-8-8 AND HAS BEEN CONTRACTED TO HANDLE TEXTS FROM OTHER STATES THAT AREN’T BEING ANSWERED QUICKLY.
GOALS SET FOR 9-8-8 INCLUDE RESPONDING TO A TEXT OR ANSWERING A PHONE CALL WITHIN 30 SECONDS.
IN JULY, THE AVERAGE PICK-UP TIME IN IOWA WAS 18 SECOND FOR PHONE CALLS.
MENT2 OC….CAPABILITY :08
COMMUNITY CRISIS RECENTLY REPORTED A 788 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE TEXT MESSAGES IT ANSWERS FROM IOWANS AND OTHER STATES.
IT IS A NATIONAL BACK-UP CENTER FOR TEXTS TO THE 9-8-8 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE.
FOUNDATION 2 CRISIS SERVICES ANSWERED MORE THAN 11-HUNDRED SUICIDE HOTLINE CALLS FROM IOWA IN JULY.
THAT’S 55 PERCENT ABOVE THE MONTHLY AVERAGE FROM JANUARY THROUGH JUNE.
