Dear Editor,

http://www.suicide-iowacountywi.org is a good place for resources when trying to help someone or help yourself in a situation that you/they may feel sad and hopeless, but don’t know where to turn for confidential advice. New to the website this past month is the HOPELINE 741741.

“HOPELINE, by the Center for Suicide Awareness, is a text-in (versus voice call-in) FREE service for help and hope. HOPELINE is the Emotional Support Text Line in the State of Wisconsin and provides service throughout the entire state.” This means they are not currently dealing with calls that are about Hurricane Matthew in Florida. This is a phone service for Wisconsinites and manned by Wisconsinites. They understand our culture, resources available, or lack of resources, and what it means to belong to a small town.

HOPELINE’s (741741) purpose is to offer emotional support and resources before situations rise to crisis level. This is what makes it an alternative option versus the Iowa County Hotline, which is for a crisis situation. The HOPELINE is a preventative resources so your life doesn’t need to get to such an extreme you are in crisis. This is a text line versus a phone line, but residents of all ages are encouraged to use it. Texts that have been received show struggles with breakups, job loss, bullying, LGBTQ issues, parental issues, school, friends, relationship issues or any struggle a person is experiencing. The HOPELINE (741741) is also an excellent number to have programed into your phone to have in case you need it. It can also be found on http://www.suicide-iowacountywi.org under the “Suicide Prevention” tab. Please take care of yourself or encourage a loved one that might need that little extra nudge to take care of them self.

Susan Springer Judd,

Ridgeway