CrisisLink News
 

CrisisLink Offers Stress-Relief Workshops for Troubled Times. Saturday, June 27. RSVP Today!
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Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
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24/7 Crisis & Suicide Prevention Hotline "Done in a Day" Sponsors
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CrisisLink Launches "The Link" TV Show
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Buy a T-shirt, Show Your Support!
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 Spotlight on: CareRing
 

June 15-21 marks National Men's Health week, 7 days dedicated to promoting physical and mental health among men and boys and to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease.

Suicide is a serious public health problem, but is also one of the most preventable forms of death. The highest rates of suicide among any age group are seen among the elderly, particularly elderly white men. In 2005, more than 84% of suicides among persons aged 65 and over were male, a rate of more than 5 times higher than their female counterparts.

CrisisLink's CareRing program is an important suicide prevention program for seniors. Through daily phone check-ins, CrisisLink's trained volunteers monitor the mental and physical well being of our clients in order to identify warning signs early and help clients and their families get help if necessary. CareRing provides peace of mind to family members and caretakers, and allows seniors to live independent, healthy lives.

To download an application and sign up for CrisisLink's CareRing Program, click here.

Seniors in crisis can call CrisisLink's Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.

Seniors in need of social service support can call CrisisLink's 2-1-1 service by dialing 2-1-1.

To learn more about CrisisLink's CareRing program, click here. 

 Conversations: Hotline Listener Ginny Reese on CareRing
 Ginny discusses her experiences making daily CareRing calls

How long have you been a volunteer with CrisisLink?
I've been a volunteer Hotline Listener since October 2008.

What kind of training do you receive in order to make CareRing calls?
The training for the CareRing calls is the same as for the Crisis Hotline. We use the skills we've learned through our 60-hr training to engage the clients in conversations, allowing them share as much with us as they feel comfortable with. Sometimes they have issues that they want to talk through, and our training in the use of open ended questions helps them process what is happening. We've learned to be aware of verbal cues that may otherwise go unnoticed and to focus on how the client may be feeling.

What do the clients get out of these calls?
Clients have expressed gratitude that we make these calls. They like knowing that someone is checking in with them on a regular basis.

What do you like most about these calls?
I like checking in with my regulars - our conversations go beyond "how are you?", "what are your plans for today?" and "nice weather we're having."

 

 Tips: Recognize Risk Factors of Depression & Suicide Among Seniors
 Depression is not a normal consequence of aging

Risk Factors include:

• Loss of a spouse
• Physical health problems
• Mental health problems
• Social isolation
• Social dependency

Preventive measures include:

• Strong connections to family support
• Strong connections to community support
• Talk to your primary care physician and ensure both physical and mental health check-up
• Know the number to call if you or someone you know is feeling depressed or suicidal - 1-800-273-TALK

 

 Media Corner
 Recent news related to CrisisLink's mission

Find links to these and more news items on CrisisLink's blog.

Washington Post: Clinic Shootings Highlight Mental Health Challenges for Military

Business Week: AP Poll: Most Students Stressed, Some Depressed

USA Today: Study Links Teen Depression to Bedtimes