A help center in Broward County said it is expecting an increase in suicide-related calls following the high-profile deaths of designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.
The Broward 211 call center – operating under the motto "Your First Call for Help" – offers help for services such as childcare, disaster relief, help for people special needs and a touchline for seniors. They receive more than 1,000 suicide-related calls each year.
Following high-profile celebrity suicides, the call center sees an increase in call volume. During these times, the center adds additional staff and has special meetings.
"Typically [calls are] heavier in the first couple days afterward but you can see effects weeks after," 211 Broward chief operations officer Frank Isaza said.
The weeks following such cases can be draining on staff.
"We just remind everybody of the importance of why we're here. To provide our counselors some validation of the type of work they're doing cause they're here saving lives," Isaza added.
Out of the 100,000 calls helpline counselors receive each year, about a dozen involve attempting to comfort and counsel someone who is an "active suicide" case.
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"Mental health is definitely one of the biggest concerns people call us with and sometimes they're suicide-related. Sometimes they're active suicide calls where someone has already taken the steps to complete a suicide when they call us on the phone," 211 Broward President and CEO Sheila Smith said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a nearly 30-percent increase in suicides since 1999.
Only about half of those people had a diagnosed mental health condition such as depression, according to the report. Many who died by suicide had been struggling with substance abuse, finances, stable housing or personal relationships.
“Suicide is a leading cause of death for Americans – and it’s a tragedy for families and communities across the country,” CDC official Anne Schuchat said in a statement. “From individuals and communities to employers and healthcare professionals, everyone can play a role in efforts to help save lives and reverse this troubling rise in suicide.”
Seeking help is one of the most important steps that a person who is struggling with suicidal thoughts can take. There are local and national organizations that can assist.
The Broward call center can be reached by dialing 211 within the county. People in Miami-Dade County can contact the SAFENET suicide prevention hotline at 305-358-4357. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.
Broward 211 has volunteering opportunities for people who wish to become involved. More information can be found on the Broward 211 website.
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline has three crisis centers – all which accept volunteers – listed in South Florida: Broward 211, Jewish Community Services of South Florida in Miami and 211 Palm Beach / Treasure Coast, Inc. in Lantana.
Miami-Dade County's National Alliance on Mental Illness also accepts volunteers.
