Crisis Center Updates:

Since Hurricane Katrina, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has been ensuring that the crisis centers in the network have the resources they need in order to serve the public. We thank all of our centers for their hard work and diligence through these difficult times.

Alabama

They are assisting many evacuees from New Orleans and surrounding areas to obtain temporary shelter.

Florida

St. Petersburg, in Pinellas County, is willing to assist in any way. Currently, they are working closely with many agencies including the Red Cross and with the local 211, where workers have already ben dispatched to the disaster areas.

Illinois

Suicide Prevention Services are preparing their volunteers for any calls that they may be receiving. Their county is expecting approximately 200 individuals to be arriving via bus and airplane in the next 24 hours.

Louisiana

Marilyn Shraberg is operating out of Resources for Disaster Relief in Monroe, LA – 1(800) 749-2673. The VIALink website http://vialink.org/index1.html asks employees and board members to call (800)749-2673.
Local Louisiana callers can dial 2-1-1 to reach the Baton Rouge or Monroe Centers. The toll-free telephone number is 1(800) 437-0303
Baton Rouge has a steady stream of volunteers and has been able to hire on more 211 workers.

Mississippi

In Jackson, MS the Contact center can be reached for local MS information at: The Crisis Line Helpline, (601)713-4357
Dial Help is ready for an increase in calls and is looking forward to providing as much support as possible.

Missouri

Behavioral Health Response is prepared to handle additional calls during this difficult time. They have the capability of adding staff if necessary.
MO will be receiving 2000 survivors this week.
Behavioral Health Response is coordinating the mental health professionals in the area and they will be at the triage site.

Oklahoma

Four additional phone lines were added on 9/2/05 for the local Careline number and have alerted volunteers and staff that calls may increase.
Oklahoma is receiving quite a few displaced persons and long-term plans are being made to help these people.

Tennessee

The Crisis Center in Memphis, TN - one of the Lifeline’s backups for MS and will redirect any callers for 24 hour help. The number is ( 901)274-7477
LINC is helping to take some of the Red Cross Calls from that area. They can be contacted at (901)415-2700 and provide the following services:

1.        Missing persons reports – Name and number to be faxed to Red Cross

2.        Volunteers – Name and number to be faxed to Red Cross

3.        Driving directions to shelters.
The local refugee number for the Memphis Hurricane Relief Call Center: established by the Mayor’s Task Force for Katrina Hurricane Relief: (901) 543-5600 (8am – 8:30pm).

Texas

Houston’s Crisis Intervention Services is planning to stay operational through hurricane Rita, although their current local call volume is such that Lifeline calls are being necessarily diverted to Georgia’s Integrated Health Resources.
MHMRA is closed throughout Hurricane Rita. They are requesting that callers dial the Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
NSPL’s other centers in Texas—both the CONTACT and Suicide and Crisis Centers in Dallas can be helpful in providing resource referral information.

Other offers to help in case of network overflow:

Alachua County Crisis Center – FL
San Francisco’s Suicide Prevention Center – CA
Youth and Family Enrichment Services, Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention Center - CA
CONTACT of Mercer County, NJ
Didi Hirsch CMHC - CA
Crisis Support Services of Almeda County – CA
The Crisis center of Family Services - WI