MN Mental Health and Suicide Hotlines Closing Down and Why it Should Worry You
Crisis Connection is a very successful and needed part of the mental health initiatives in this state...and it's shutting down. And this is NOT good.
Crisis Connection is there for people in crisis...why are they closing? According to NPR's report...
It's closing for financial reasons: overall losses, and insufficient funds to pay counselors...
...Crisis Connection recently raised some $85,000 in funding. Still, Eastwood said, it's projecting a $215,000 loss.
They also operate a The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which WILL continue to operate at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Now, why does this matter? Honestly, it goes past the obvious "people in desperate need won't have a resource that'll help them ASAP"...it can, and often does, turn into
something far worse for the person. And, if you're worried about your tax dollars, for all of us, too.
Let's say you'd call the hotline, but it's not there. If you're fortunate, you'll find help somewhere else. But what if you can only get to the ER and there aren't enough beds.
Many may end up self medicating, which can exacerbate your health problem, and/or act out in ways that get the criminal justice system involved, which can ruin your future, your hope for recovery.
For the average taxpayer, not dealing with mental illness, is more than a moral failure, it also becomes an incredible drain on resources. Every aspect of a community benefits when mental health help is readily and constantly available.
As a person dealing personally with mental illness, I know how hard it can be to just pick up a phone to get help. It's even harder to ask a friend for help, or to make an appointment, or to walk into a clinic. So when you're in a place to ask for help, the worst thing we can do is put up a wall.
Trust me on this. The spiral is a real staircase, and it easily will take you all the way down.
SUICIDE PREVENTION STILL AVAILABLE AT 1-800-273-TALK (8255)