HeartLine

HeartLine, Oklahoma’s Community Crisis Connection, needs community volunteers to help address youth suicide rates in Oklahoma. You can make a difference by becoming a volunteer presenter for HeartLine’s Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative, the Healthy Education for Life Program (HELP)! The next training session will be held on January 14^th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Pre-registration and full attendance is required.  To sign up for this training, please contact HeartLine’s Director of Suicide Prevention & Outreach Programs, Lisa Harper, at lharper@heartlineoklahoma.org or at 405.840.9396 ext. 114.

In Oklahoma, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 – 24.  The vision of HELP is to equip Oklahoma youth with the knowledge and intervention skills to prevent youth suicide.  HELP works towards this vision by providing Oklahoma youth with an interactive, multi-faceted training. Through the combination of a video, lecture, and group activity, students learn the warning signs of suicide and how to get help for themselves or for a friend.  The video-based program currently reaches approximately 4,000 youth each year. In the 2010-2011 school year, 30.8% of students identified themselves or a friend as being at risk for depression or suicide.

HeartLine has been serving Oklahoma since 1971, and provides suicide prevention outreach programs, listening and crisis intervention services.   HeartLine’s Call Specialists are trained in crisis intervention and are available around the clock through HeartLine’s phone-based services, including 2-1-1, the 24/7 helpline 848-CARE, the Oklahoma Problem Gambling Helpline 1-800-522-4700 and two national suicide prevention lines 1-800-SUICIDE and 1-800-273-TALK.