Suicide Prevention Textline to Receive Funding Boost
Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 -- 10:38 AM
(AP) -A suicide prevention hotline will receive a boost in funding under a unanimous vote by the Wisconsin Legislature’s budget committee following a bitter partisan fight.The Republican-controlled budget panel on Wednesday approved the $110,000 annual grant. The vote came a week after a Republican-led suicide prevention task force recommended releasing the money. The funding had been approved as part of the state budget signed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in July. But Republicans who control the budget committee refused to make it available for the Hopeline suicide prevention textline until after the task force released its recommendations.
Democrats pushed unsuccessfully for the funding to be available sooner, arguing lives were at stake. The textline is run by the nonprofit Center for Suicide Awareness based in Kaukauna. It provides immediate help to people in crisis by sending text messages.
PLEASE NOTE: HOPELINE?"?, offered by Center for Suicide Awareness, is a text-in (versus voice call-in) free emotional support service providing hope, help, and support when it’s needed most. HOPELINE?"? serves anyone in any type of situation providing them access to free, 24/7 emotional support and information they need via the medium they already use and trust: text.
HOPELINE?"?’s purpose is to offer emotional support and resources before situations rise to crisis level. Texts received reflect struggles with breakups, relationship issues, job loss, bullying, LGBTQ issues, parental issues, school, friends, or any struggle a person is experiencing
Text the word, HOPELINE to 741741 ??" from anywhere, anytime, about any type of challenge or struggle. Help and hope is just a text away.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.