HCA Partners With CrisisLink, Provides Much Needed Hotlines for Loudoun County

When suicide seems the only resort and you have no one to talk to who will listen, understand, and help you back to confidence and health, a telephone call to CrisisLink can mean the difference between life and death.

A nationally recognized and fully accredited organization, CrisisLink has been helping individuals in the Washington D.C. area address and overcome crisis, trauma, depression and suicide for almost 40 years. Now, in a partnership with HCA Virginia's Dominion Hospital in Fairfax, CrisisLink will begin an aggressive education campaign to make Loudoun and Northern Virginia residents more aware of the Arlington, Virginia service.

For decades, urban areas in the United States and Europe have relied on telephone hotlines to help individuals who are depressed but have no one they feel they can talk to about their situation. As depression deepens, hope and the desire to live decline rapidly, and, without a supportive, understanding dialogue can lead to devastating action.

Most people who are suicidal really don't want to end their lives. But, although depression is a medical illness that is treatable, estimates indicate that two thirds of those who are depressed never seek treatment and suffer needlessly.

Stress & Tension

Residents of rapidly growing and changing areas like Loudoun County and Northern Virginia can experience high levels of stress and tension. When they try to tackle their fears and isolation without help, they may find themselves sinking deeper and deeper into depression.

With help, the kind of help provided by a hotline service like CrisisLink, the problems, challenges and fears can be expressed and addressed with understanding and support.

Trula Minton, HCA Dominion's new chief executive officer, has been a leader in psychiatry since the early 1970's, understands how valuable a call to CrisisLink can be.

"A thriving community needs access to all kinds of prevention services," she emphasized. "Understanding that CrisisLink is there to help seven days a week, 24-hours a day will provide an invaluable support structure to Loudoun County and Northern Virginia residents."

"We're delighted to introduce this free and confidential service to the area to ensure that every citizen, no matter what their age or situation, understands that CrisisLink is there to help them, their family members, friends and colleagues."

CrisisLink's Executive Director Carol Loftur-Thun speaks forcefully about the value of talking to someone who's on your side in times of crises.

"Whether it is the sudden loss of someone important in your life, a situation that feels like failure or a seemingly impossible challenge, suicide can seem to be the only answer. We know that, with the help of one of our over 100 volunteers, individuals can overcome obstacles that once seemed insurmountable by simply calling one of our five hotlines."

Since 1999, over 100 sons, daughters, mothers, fathers and friends have resorted to suicide in Loudoun County. Their deaths have devastated families, neighborhoods, schools and communities.

Free & Confidential

In 2004 alone, there were 132 deaths by suicide in Northern Virginia, and in Loudoun suicides outnumber homicides by six-to-one. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States among young people between the ages of 15 and 24, and it is the second leading cause of death among college students.

Someone to talk to, someone who can guide you to treatment and community resources, is often a life saver for individuals who feel they cannot cope on their own according to Loftur-Thun.

Calls to CrisisLink overall increased 60%, and calls from teenagers increased 235% in the past two years alone.

CrisisLink originated in the basement of concerned citizens after the 1969 D.C. riots. "It was clear that the mental health infrastructure needed help," said Loftur-Thun.

During and after 9/11, the hotline service was rapidly integrated into the Pentagon's support service infrastructure and following the events call volume increased dramatically. Now an award-winning hotline service, CrisisLink offers prevention, intervention and what is referred to as "post-vention" services.

In addition to individual interaction following a traumatic event or experience, post-vention includes training for community leaders and services like fire and police staffs.

"We follow the national standard of active listening, crisis de-escalation and resource provision," said Loftur-Thun. "A caring, well trained, non-critical listener who doesn't think you're crazy can be an enormous help in difficult situations."

CEO Minton underscores how often depressed individuals don't know they need help. "Depression is not as obvious as a fever or a broken bone. Although we now know that mental illness is just as real and treatable as any other illness, there is still a lack of understanding and a real stigma associated with asking for help. That's why a confidential, empathetic listener is so important and valuable."

"If you don't feel right, it's not as easy to realize that you may need help," Minton concluded.

By establishing a rapport with their callers, CrisisLink's staff often becomes a pivotal part of an individual's return to health and confidence.

"We have individuals who call us regularly, and over a long period of time," said Loftur-Thun. "There is nothing better than receiving a call from one of those callers to tell us he or she won't be calling anymore."

CrisisLink will also schedule calls to check in on individuals to make sure they are safe and engaged. "We can only provide our services with community and individual support," explained the executive director. With call volume up 75% and a staff that has grown 40% since I joined the organization two and a half years ago, our budget has increased 42%. "That's why our partnership with Dominion is so critically important to us as we increase awareness and access to our services in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia."

Director of Community Relations Megan Descutner will spearhead a countywide education campaign about CrisisLink.

"We will work closely with schools, churches and youth organizations to make sure they know about CrisisLink hotlines and when to use the service."

"Everyone needs to know these phone numbers: 1-800-273-TALK; 1-800-SUICIDE; 703-527-4077; 703-752-5254 OR WWW.CRISISLINK.ORG," Descutner said. "Every child, every teacher, every parent needs to know how to reach CrisisLink."

Each executive emphasized that parents should never feel that, because a family member is struggling with mental illness it reflects badly on them. Parents should not feel alone. They can be confident that treatment is available and that by calling CrisisLink, help and a much better situation is on the way.

CrisisLink
You talk, we listen for free. 1-800-273-TALK
1-800-SUICIDE
703-527-4077
703-752-5254
www.crisislink.org