Idaho Suicide Hotline Center worried about people jumping from downtown parking garages
BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — It wouldn't be the first time someone jumped from the top level of a parking garage in downtown Boise. Director of the Idaho Suicide Hotline, John Reusser, says he and his team became aware of the problem from police reports.
"The way that it's laid out with the ledges and access to the garage are just some factors that have lent themselves to being a place where people go to attempt suicide,” Reusser said.
The Idaho Suicide Hotline partnered with the Idaho Suicide Prevention Resource Center in late summer of 2016. They made putting up the signs one of their first priorities.
“The idea was to have a resource there for someone who might be going up with the thought of attempting,” Reusser said.
Contrary to popular belief, suicide rates do not increase during the winter and holiday seasons. While seasonal affective disorder can be common in the winter months, the highest suicide rates are in April and May.
“I think the holidays can actually make people feel more connected," Reusser said. "There’s more things to do, there's cooking, there's social things to go to, there's lot of cookies and sugar around, so there's some protective factors of togetherness and belonging."
Idaho Suicide Hotline has received nearly 3,000 more calls this year than last. Reusser says he doesn't think it's due to an increase in suicide, but rather an increase in awareness through platforms like the signs in parking garages.
“People are learning about the hotline and they're reaching out more for help,” Reusser said.
The hotline gets about 30 to 50 calls a day. Calls received from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. may be answered by one of the 90 volunteers at the hotline. Each volunteer goes through 50 plus hours of training and there are paid staff members in the phone room 24 hours a day.
Volunteer Rich Rayhill has donated his time to the hotline for five years. He says the situation that leads people to want to take their own life is often temporary and he believes if they can get through about ten minutes with someone, the likelihood that they will carry out the suicide greatly decreases.
“There's a lot of us out there that are having a hard time and it's good to have a voice to reach out to when things get overwhelming," Rayhill said.
According to the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline, some suicide warning signs include:
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Withdrawn or feeling isolated
- Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Giving things away, such as prized possessions
- Themes of death or depression in conversation, writing, reading or art
Some more inconspicuous warning signs include an increase in happiness.
“Perhaps somebody has been really down and suddenly they’re really cheerful," Reusser said. "It is possible it's because they made this decision to complete a suicide attempt.”
If you or anyone you know needs help, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800- 273- 8255 or chat online with a professional anytime.
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