A national epidemic as well as a local one, suicide and suicidal ideology is something that continues to affect thousands of people on a daily basis. A concept that not everyone likes to talk about, but something that Lubbock experts say needs to become a topic of conversation. Sharron Davis with ‘Contact Lubbock’ said they receive calls all day everyday in regards to suicide.
“Sometimes suicide is a spur of the moment decision and sometimes it’s very well thought out and planned, and you know what we find is when we go into a school and the kids are asking for help,” Davis said, “many times the signals were there but maybe they were missed.”
The ‘Contact Lubbock’ hotline: #806-765-8395 is separate from the national hotline: 1-800-273-8255, but Davis said they work together to make sure that every single call is answered. She said her longest crisis call lasted for 24 hours. Dr. Ryan Lewis with STAR ER said Lubbock emergency rooms struggle to meet the large quantity of mental health needs here in Lubbock.
“It’s definitely an issue in Lubbock, it’s an issue not because of the well meaning providers that are trying,” Lewis said. “It’s just simply the supply and demand, and from right now my experience from Lubbock and various places the supply is not keeping up with the demand unfortunately.”
If you don’t feel like picking up the phone you can also text: 741-741 and message back and forth with a volunteer about what you are experiencing.
