Missoula County supports HB 315: Implement 988 suicide prevention lifeline, up for hearing this afternoon in the House Energy Committee.
Missoula County is investing heavily in mental health. We’ve added a call center to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, hosted by Western Montana Mental Health, and we’ve also initiated a Mobile Crisis Response team. Financial support for that system of care is critical to its success.
Having a universal short code number like 911, in this case 988, will greatly increase the likelihood that callers in a crisis will make the call and receive the help they need. The cost of 10 cents per month to fund this service is worth every dime people will pay if it saves one family, one first responder, one community from losing a loved one.
I am currently the Chief Administrative Office for Missoula County. When I started my career at Missoula County 23 years ago, I worked as 9-1-1 dispatcher. Serving as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for more than 10 years, I took numerous calls from Montanans who were contemplating suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis. I will never be able to forget some of the calls I took from parents frantic that their son or daughter might hurt themselves. And, unfortunately, I can never unhear the wails coming from parents who returned home to find that a family member has taken their life. Too often when talking to callers and suggesting that they reach out directly to the suicide and mental health hotline and asking if they were ready to write down the number or had a pen, my thoughts were “what is the likelihood that the caller will actually make the call.” Having a universal short code number like 9-1-1, in this case 9-8-8, will greatly increase the likelihood that those callers will make the call and receive the help they need. The cost of 10 cents per month to fund this service is worth every dime people will pay if it saves one family, one first responder, one community from losing a loved one. Missoula County is investing heavily in mental health, beginning in January of 2021 Missoula County launched a mobile crisis response team that has responded to mental health calls across our community. We urge the Legislature to make this vital investment in mental health for our state. Please support HB 315.
Sent Feb. 10:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives Olsen and Sullivan,
Missoula County supports HB 315: Implement 988 suicide prevention lifeline, up for hearing this afternoon in the House Energy Committee.
Missoula County is investing heavily in mental health. We’ve added a call center to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, hosted by Western Montana Mental Health, and we’ve also initiated a Mobile Crisis Response team. Financial support for that system of care is critical to its success.
Having a universal short code number like 911, in this case 988, will greatly increase the likelihood that callers in a crisis will make the call and receive the help they need. The cost of 10 cents per month to fund this service is worth every dime people will pay if it saves one family, one first responder, one community from losing a loved one.
Please support HB 315.
CAO Chris Lounsbury testimony at hearing Feb. 10:
ReplyDeleteI am currently the Chief Administrative Office for Missoula County. When I started my career at Missoula County 23 years ago, I worked as 9-1-1 dispatcher. Serving as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for more than 10 years, I took numerous calls from Montanans who were contemplating suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis. I will never be able to forget some of the calls I took from parents frantic that their son or daughter might hurt themselves. And, unfortunately, I can never unhear the wails coming from parents who returned home to find that a family member has taken their life. Too often when talking to callers and suggesting that they reach out directly to the suicide and mental health hotline and asking if they were ready to write down the number or had a pen, my thoughts were “what is the likelihood that the caller will actually make the call.” Having a universal short code number like 9-1-1, in this case 9-8-8, will greatly increase the likelihood that those callers will make the call and receive the help they need. The cost of 10 cents per month to fund this service is worth every dime people will pay if it saves one family, one first responder, one community from losing a loved one. Missoula County is investing heavily in mental health, beginning in January of 2021 Missoula County launched a mobile crisis response team that has responded to mental health calls across our community. We urge the Legislature to make this vital investment in mental health for our state. Please support HB 315.