The Crisis Line is part of the Canadian Mental Health Association's program family and is funded by the Interior Health Authority, providing a crisis safety net for the East Kootenay region. Through the diligence of trained volunteers, the 24 hour service fields calls that deal with a variety of mental health issues, such as suicide, stressors in relationships, and domestic violence. Referrals and protocols are in place for emergencies to ensure quality assistance to callers.
Crisis Line and the Community
The Crisis Line has been in existence since the early seventies. What started as a simple service with a few good-hearted people has turned into a service with a comprehensive training program and community safeguards in place.
This program is now considered an 'essential service' in the region. We are striving to be an integral part of the East Kootenays by offering a 24 hour support system and safety net to those in crisis. We've also been part of a consultation team for clients with chronic mental illness, to ensure a strong support system is in place when things are not going well.
The Crisis Line exists on the wonderful efforts of our volunteers. All calls ensure anonymity for the volunteer and client. Volunteers are skilled at getting help to those in dire straits.
For more information: call 426.5222, toll free 1.800.667.8407
Crisis Line Video Harold's Story: Volunteers, are vital to the delivery of the Crisis Line service, and are initially recruited through the Volunteer Cranbrook. Last year the Crisis Line responded to more than 1600 crisis calls. You will learn more about this important community service in the video profile Harold's Story . In the viewing of this video you will see that we have disguised the face of the Crisis Line volunteer – Harold - in order to protect and maintain the integrity of his role.
CRISIS LINE AWARENESS WEEK 2010-March 21-27
Crisis Lines: The Critical Safety Net in Every Community
Why would someone call a crisis line?
• Crisis Lines are recognized as the suicide ‘experts’ in BC. They are most often the first place people call who are considering suicide and crisis line workers are trained in the most recent suicide assessment and intervention strategies. Crisis lines also provide suicide training to their local communities, schools and other professionals
• 8-12% of callers have suicidal thoughts
• 35-45% of callers have a mental health or addiction issue
• Calls range from emotional support, information and referral to suicide in progress calls where emergency intervention is required. Other calls include relationship conflicts, homelessness, family violence, grief, isolation & loneliness calls
• Every call is life changing … whether a woman leaving an abusive relationship and calling for support and information on the local shelter; a family facing a housing crisis and imminent homelessness in need of resources, support and information; someone calling the line to help them cope with their mental health or addiction issue in between appointments with their case worker; or someone thinking that there is no way out except suicide and in desperate need of a compassionate, empowering, trained and skilled crisis line worker to support them or initiate emergency intervention if needed
• Over 175,000 calls were answered through the 20 crisis lines in the province of BC last year alone … that’s a crisis line call answered every 3 minutes.
• Averaging 20 minutes each call, local crisis lines provided over 3.5 million minutes of support last year alone.
How do people access support?
• 1-800-SUICIDE is a 24/7 provincial network providing every person in B.C. with access to critical suicide intervention and prevention. This service is provided by members of the Crisis Line Association of B.C. and was the first of it’s kind in Canada.
If you or someone you know needs help, give them the crisis line in the East Kootenays at 1-800-667-8407, or contact 1-800-SUICIDE for support around suicide,
Contact:
Canadian Mental Health Association for the Kootenays
39 13th Ave S
Cranbrook, BC V1C 2V4
250-426-5222
www.kootenays.cmha.bc.ca