Suicide hotline to be cut off Friday - Petition

I'm sorry I don't have time to do a proper diary, but there's something we all should do. Sign a petition to keep the government's hands off of the confidential data on individuals in crisis, people who call 1-800-SUICIDE.

If you can, please do one more thing... make a small donation here to help them keep the lines open, you can read more about the plight of 1-800-SUICIDE here.

Ilona did a great diary on August 11th, and that, plus other people helping out, got them a two week extension. But that's almost up. Tomorrow they run out of time.

more

There's a lot of news about this crisis here

but here's the gist of it:

1-800-SUICIDE is in danger of being shut off or worse falling into the hands of the Federal Government. With teenage suicide being the 3rd leading cause of death between 18 to 24 year olds - our government should not be duplicating prevention efforts but helping fund the many local organizations and non-profits with proven track records on prevention. In addition our government should not be in the business having access to this private and sensitive information!

Despite the fact that almost 2 million callers have reached help and hope over the last 8 years, and a government funded evaluation stating the benefits of 1-800-SUICIDE, the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), a division of Health & Human Services, has decided to create their own government run system where they would have direct access to confidential data on individuals in crisis.

To protect the callers to suicide crisis hotlines the management of 1-800-SUICIDE has refused to turn over the control of the National Hopeline Network to the SAMHSA. As a result it is in danger of being completely shut off to the almost 2,000 individuals in crisis who reach out daily because our government has not only ended all funding but also continues to owe $266,000 in overdue bills to the Hopeline from 2 years ago. (This is not new funds - but money that was already allocated!).

I know everyone's trying to get your money. I also know we're a lot of peope who wouldn't look at this and turn our backs. Please do what you can, and tell a friend.

If we don't take back the congress, we might need this more than we do already :-)

(sorry for the bad joke)

racerx

•  I did both.

  I didn't see anything that said how far away they are from their goal.

  Do you know what the gap we're trying to close is?

  by boadicea on Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 03:57:11 PM PDT

  •  Biiig gap

    http://www.save1800suicide.org/

    They have $20K, need $67K

    by Catte Nappe on Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 04:13:32 PM PDT

    •  The number hasn't changed since early this week

      So the actual amount they need could be significantly less...but I'm assuming there's still a big gap between where they are and the $67K. Sure wish they'd update the amount raised, though, since if it is closer people will have more hope that their bit can close the gap.

      by sardonyx on Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 05:08:55 PM PDT

•  The following is currently posted at that website

  The Kristin Brooks Hope Center and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have reached an agreement that will allow 1-800-SUICIDE to remain open and continue to be answered. Additional information will be forthcoming. All parties are grateful to the field for their ongoing support.

  This text appears where the countdown timer had been; the rest of the web page is unchanged.

  by sardonyx on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 09:26:50 PM PDT