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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline expands services

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline is expanding its services by adding an additional phone line for people to call in crisis. The Idaho Statesman (http://bit.ly/2gZ5bym ) reports that the new phone number will also accept text messages Mondays through Fridays, between 3 p.m. and midnight. Organizers announced the additional services on Monday. Idaho's suicide rate has long been above the national average, and was the ninth highest rate in the country in 2014, the most recent year for which figures were available, when the rate was 46 percent higher than the national average. The Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline has fielded nearly 5,400 calls so far this year. The suicide hotline's original number is still 1-800-273-TALK. The additional number is 208-398-HELP.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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