A teenage boy is having thoughts of suicide. Home alone, he’s prepared to write a note sharing his feelings of overwhelming sadness and cutting and find a place to end it all; but then, he grabs the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a number his summer school teacher had given him and encouraged him to call.
With one call, his life is saved.
This dire situation was a real one right here in Bucks County.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK)
According to a recent release by Family Service Association of Bucks County, the boy confessed to a volunteer for the department that he had shared his feelings with a friend who didn’t seem to care – convincing him to take his own life.
The boy, who said he regularly sees a mental health professional, was able to see that many people around him care and that perhaps his friend wasn’t sure how to respond. The boy then agreed to call his mother who immediately came back home. He then called the Lifeline back to let the volunteer listener know that he was safe.
Several days later, according to Family Service, the boy called the Lifeline again, this time to share that the listener had made a real difference in his life. He thanked the volunteer for caring about him and for talking the time to talk.
Family Service receives nearly 1,000 calls a month from people just like the boy mentioned above, who find themselves in distress. The 50 volunteer listeners who take those calls are everyday citizens who have undergone classroom and on-the-job training and give a minimum of eight hours a month answering the phones at call centers in Bucks and Montgomery counties.
Not all calls are from suicidal individuals. Some callers have limited social interactions and just want someone to hear their voice. Others are struggling with anxiety or depression and don’t know where to turn for help, according to officials.
While Family Service has approximately a few dozen volunteer listeners, they need 120 volunteers to adequately staff all shifts and answer as many calls as possible. You can make a difference in our community. Become a volunteer and help restore hope and save lives.
The next series of training classes will take place on Tuesdays from September 13th through October 18th from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Family Service’s Langhorne office. To register for training, contact Ellen Vinson, Director of Volunteer Services, at volunteer@fsabc.org or (215) 757-6916, ext. 202 or complete the online application at www.fsabc.org/volunteer.
