Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Received more than 500 texts from those in distress since introducing texting in March
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The numbers are scary. Since introducing a texting service in late March, the suicide prevention and crisis intervention hotline CONTACT We Care has received more than 500 texts from people in distress, the majority coming from teenagers, the nonprofit reported today. Texters reach the hotline by texting “CWC” to 839863 Monday, Wednesday or Friday 4:00-10:00 p.m. All texts are anonymous and confidential. This significant use of the texting service followed CONTACT’s promotion of the option in three Union County schools as part of its roll out of the program, as well as through general publicity, according to Joanne Oppelt, the agency’s executive director. In 2013 CONTACT plans to add up to four additional schools in an effort to make …
Monday, December 17, 2012
Suicide prevention and crisis hotline extends hours to ensure callers find help
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
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Monday, December 17, 2012
Fran McTernan answered the phone at 12:30 a.m. and heard a woman say, “I’m so glad you’re there. I’m sitting in my car Googling how to kill myself and your number came up.” McTernan, a volunteer listener at CONTACT We Care, a local crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline, talked to the caller, named Sarah, for two hours. She listened as Sarah told her she was in her mid-30s and felt like there was nothing to live for. Like all CONTACT listeners, McTernan was empathetic and attempted to guide Sarah to her own conclusions that there were reasons for her not to take her life and what actions steps she could take to make things better for herself. By the end of the call Sarah told McTernan she felt better. “I went home and went …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
CONTACT We Care provides a place for all ages to turn in a crisis.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The following is a press release from Westfield-based Contact We Care: NBC’s “Rock Center,” The New York Daily News, The New York Times, The Huffington Post – these are just some of the media outlets that recently have covered the message being delivered by Joe and Jane Clementi, parents of Tyler Clementi and founders of the Tyler Clementi Foundation. Now Joe Clementi will share that message with a local audience October 25 when he serves as keynote speaker at The 2012 Call of Hope Gala of CONTACT We Care, the suicide prevention and crisis intervention hotline located in Westfield. “Two years ago, as a college freshman, our son Tyler felt bullied and unsafe and made a decision that we will never be able to undo,” Joe and Jane Clementi …
