As the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline becomes a 3-digit number, 988, host annasale visits a call center in Wyoming, which had the highest suicide rate per capita in the US in 2020.
Hey, it’s Anna. Our episode this week deals with suicide, and we also discuss an attempt. If you or someone you love is at risk of harming themselves, or if you just need some help with mental health, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The number is 800-273-8255, or as you’ll hear about in this episode, as of July 16th, you can just dial ‘988’. Jason: Yeah. And sometimes it's rewarding sometimes it's not.
Jason: I was, you know, very suicidal, had a plan. I was driving. I was about 45 minutes away from Casper, I was coming back. And then all of a sudden something, something quick– uh, I started calling people to say, Hey, I'm not safe. It was almost as if as soon as the front tires hit the interstate from the on ramp, everything changed.Jason: It was probably, my wife is who I called first.
This simple three-digit number goes into effect nationwide on July 16th. And along with this new number, local call centers are gearing up for more calls. So when you’re in crisis, you reach someone who knows the community you’re a part of. That's why Karen says it’s important that the person at the other end of the line answering the call gets the local community and how to suggest where to find help.
Jason: I'd already built my team up so much that I trusted, that knew how to help me and knew what to do to get me to a safer place, both physically and mentally and all that. Jason: Well, prior to the local hotline, I heard some people say they're on hold for up to 20 minutes. Um, and when you're in a crisis situation, 20 minutes is, you know, an eternity, you know? Jason: But then once they got the local hotlines, um, the people that have, that I have heard or talked about, talked to who called in, say it's much better. They get right in. There's not near as long as a wait.
Ralph: I think it's important that as a gay couple, that we’re out and proud in Wyoming, in a small town like Greybull. Anna: Whoa. Wait, how old were you when you met?Coming up, I talk with Ralph about preparing for the rollout of 988, and whether they’re ready. This month, I’m guest hosting the NPR show It’s Been a Minute. And we’re talking about the launch of 988 over on that show too this week. I spoke with Hannah Wesolowski to learn more about how this launch is going nationally.
So Hannah and her colleagues in the mental health community are expecting, and hoping for, a lot more calls. You can hear the rest of my conversation with Hannah over in the It’s Been a Minute podcast feed on Friday. She was wonderful to talk to, really knowledgeable about this new policy, and also all that still needs to be done to fix our mental health care system. I recommend listening.When I met Ralph Nieder-Westermann in Greybull, Wyoming, he was just back from Casper pride.
Anna: Can you talk me through when you're answering calls, what, what is the experience of the caller? And then when do they connect with you and what do you see? Calls get personal at the Wyoming Lifeline — for those who dial in and for the people picking up the phone. Adam Smith does that full time for the Lifeline. He grew up in town.But he moved back to take care of his dad, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and struggled with his mental health.
Adam: That's a really good question. Um, I had no idea because there's ranching jobs, there's the railroad. Uh, and then there's like bartending jobs, I guess I might've landed one of those. Or cooking in a restaurant, something like that. And then I found an IT position. And then one day Ralph came in and I heard him kind of, I was getting a cup of coffee, I think, or something. And they were talking about the lifeline.
Adam: Well, for me, it's music, really, is what helps me the most. Um, Elliot Smith, I don’t know, um, Grateful Dead.Adam: I find Elliot Smith's music actually really kind of, I don't find it depressing at all. Some of it can be, but you know, some of it can be really upbeat too, I find.If you call the Wyoming Lifeline and there aren’t any local operators available, you're rolled over to a national call center.
Anna: Um, are, does your, do your bosses know– are you open about your mental health diagnosis at work among coworkers? Anna: Have you, like, do you have a safety plan as far as the firearms in your house for when you don't feel healthy?Anna: Oh, really? Anna: And how did you decide that you didn't get to know the code?
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