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Local Call Center Preparing for New Suicide Hotline Number National Suicide Hotline Gets New Number

By James Pampeyan

JAMES PAMPEYAN: When you call the National Suicide Hotline in Syracuse, you are usually greeted to this.

EMPLOYEE: Courtland County Hotline, how may I help you?

PAMPEYAN: That was an employee at Contact Community Services in East Syracuse answering the call. The Program Manager for Crisis Services says there will be a new number for the suicide hotline.

KRISTINE KNUTSON: Starting July 16th, it’s going to be a 3 digit number. 988. 911 is still going to be 911 but as of this summer, people are going to be able to call 988 to connect with their local crisis center.

PAMPEYAN: With a new, shorter number, the National Suicide Hotline will be easier to remember. Knutson says with a simpler phone number, Contact expects there to be an increase in calls, which means the need for more staff.

KNUTSON: So we have I think roughly 38 or 40 crisis councelors now. We’re actively recruiting new folks. So we’re advertising. We’re interviewing. We’re hiring and training up new people so that we are prepared to be able to meet the need.

PAMPEYAN: Now Contact Community Services is working on hiring and filling the positions that answer the phone in preparation for 9-8-8. However, with a lack of employees to answer the phones, a psychiatrist from Upstate Medical University says that this might cause the opposite of what 9-8-8 intends to do.

DR. ROBERT GREGORY: You know maybe making that one last desperate phone call, and then you’re put on hold for the next 15 minutes or hour or more than that…and could potentially increase the risk rather than decrease it.

PAMPEYAN: Knutson says Contact is also waiting on funds to release from New York State which will also help with hiring more people. James Pampeyan, NCC News.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)- When you call the National Suicide Hotline, you are directed to a crisis center like Contact Community Services in East Syracuse. The traditional 10 digit number for the hotline will be changed in July, according to Crisis Services Program Manager Kristine Knutson.

“Starting July 16th, it’s going to be a 3 digit number. 988,” Knutson said. “911 is still going to be 911 but as of this summer, people are going to be able to call 988 to connect with their local crisis center to get that wonderful support. We want people to know that this is a resource not for just people who are high risk of suicide, but for people who might be struggling with any variety of life challenges or mental health issues.”

The new National Suicide Hotline number is shorter and easier to remember. There has been a push for a three digit number in order to make it accessable to more people. Knutson said they are expecting an increase in calls, which heightens the need for more staff.

“So we have I think roughly 38 or 40 crisis councelors now. We’re actively recruiting new folks,” Knutson said. “So we’re advertising. We’re interviewing. We’re hiring and training up new people so that we are prepared to be able to meet the need.”

The Contact Community Center is working on hiring new counselors to answer the phone. But, if the lines are backed up due to the increase in calls, Doctor Robert Gregory from Upstate Medical University says it could have adverse affects.

“If you’re in crisis making that one last desperate phone call and then you’re put on hold for the next 15 minutes or hour or more than that,” Gregory said. “That sends the exact opposite message that the person is trying to recieve at that moment and could potentially increase the risk rather than decrease it.”

In addition to the funding Contact already receives, Knutson said it is waiting for more funds to be released from New York State in order to help with the hiring process.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 800-273-8255 or the Contact Hotline at 315-251-0600

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