Community News

WASHINGTON, DC – July 20, 2023 – July 20, 2023 marks the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This was formerly called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and reachable through a 10-digit number. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a leader of suicide prevention and mental health crisis care through a national network of more than 200 crisis centers staffed by trained counselors. It provides free and confidential emotional support to Americans, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Translation services are provided in more than 240 languages. Many studies have shown, that after speaking with a counselor, people who call the Lifeline feel much better, more hopeful, less suicidal, less depressed and less overwhelmed. Research has showed that the number of Americans with suicide thoughts, depression and anxiety has increased during the coronavirus pandemic.

There have been almost 5 million contacts via calls, texts and chats answered over the past year assisting millions of people in a mental health crisis. These people were looking for help with suicide, mental health and substance use-related crises. The hotline’s efficiency has improved over the year. A shorter easy-to-remember phone number was able to make counseling more accessible and save more lives. The average speed to answer for contacts decreased from 2 minutes 39 seconds to 41 seconds while the volume of text contacts, chats, and calls answered increased by 1135%, 141%, and 46% respectively. There were 2 million more contacts this year than last year prior to introducing the 988 number.

Improving the hotline’s access and its efficiency is in response to reducing the mental health crisis in the United States. One billion additional dollars have been invested in the 988-suicide hotline this past year. It includes funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Safer Community Act. The lifeline is supported by HHS through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These funds have gone to states, territories and tribes to provide more staff, more training, and more resources to meet this growing need.

Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, the HHS Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA, said “This means that more people are getting help and they are getting help more quickly, which is crucial for a person in crisis.”

Specialized services have been added to the suicide hotline since its inception last year, including:

• Spanish text and chat services (to already existing call support)
• LGBTQI+
• Youth and young adults

The crisis line links to the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). Military members, veterans, and their families can reach the VCL by dialing 9-8-8 and pressing option 1. Almost 1 out of 5 contacts were answered by the VCL.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said, “988 is a life-saving program that connects Americans with trained counselors who offer real support in times of crisis.”

If someone is struggling or is in crisis, help is available by phone or text at 9-8-8 or for chat at 988lifeline.org.

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

ATLANTA, GA – July 26, 2023 – Suicide is a leading cause of death and a serious public health problem in the U.S. A suicide is a death caused by a self-inflicted injury with the intent to die. A suicide attempt is also caused by a self-inflicted injury with the intent to die but does not result in death. Many factors can increase a person’s suicide risk such as child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence.

Some facts about suicide (from 2020 data):

• Over 1 million people attempted suicide and almost 46 thousand people died as a result.
• It’s the 9^th leading cause of death for people ages 10-64 and the 2^nd leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34.
• Rates are higher in the non-Hispanic Native American/Native Alaskan group, the non-Hispanic White group, males, persons aged 85 and older, veterans, people who live in rural areas, miners, construction workers, and persons who identify as LGBT.
• Firearms are used in more than 50% of suicides.
• Rates are lower in North Carolina (13.2 per 100,000) than nationally (13.5 per 100,000)
• In 2018, rates were 50% higher in Buncombe County than in North Carolina

According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

• Almost 13% of adolescents ages 12 to 17 had serious thoughts of suicide
• Almost 5% of adults ages 18 and older had serious thoughts of suicide

The impact of suicide and suicide attempts can result in serious emotional, physical and economic harm. People who attempt suicide and survive may have long-term health problems like depression and serious physical injuries. Family and friends of persons who die by suicide may develop mental health concerns. The economic affect from suicide and nonfatal suicide attempts was estimated in 2019 to cost the nation $490 billion in medical costs, work loss, quality of life and value of life.

A comprehensive public health approach can result in suicide prevention. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors have been shown to decrease with having easy access to health care, a supportive family and community support.

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

ASHEVILLE, NC – July 26, 2023 – The COVID-19 metrics are on the CDC’s COVID Dashboard.

• For the week ending on July 8^th, Hospital admissions are at a low level in every county in North Carolina and almost 100% of the counties in the U.S. Buncombe County’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have remained the same
• For the week ending on July 15^th, there were fewer than 10 deaths due to COVID last week in North Carolina, the lowest level of 6 groups.
• Emergency room visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina for the week ending on July 15^th.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data for the week ending on July 12^th is on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard.

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at a dark blue level representing the lowest level of 5 groups.
• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample over the past 15 days is at a decreasing rate of change, the lowest negative rate of change from 5 possible levels.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wants everyone to know that:

• COVID-19 can affect people differently. Some people have mild symptoms like a cold and others have more severe symptoms like a bad case of the flu. Some effects can be long-lasting.
• Older adults and immunocompromised people are at a higher risk of developing severe illness and being hospitalized. The CDC recommends that people in these groups get an updated COVID-19 bivalent booster because it gives added protection.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:

• Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines
• For extra protection, wear an efficient medical grade mask
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home
• People with any COVID symptoms should get tested
• If you test positive, your doctor may recommend medical treatment

More and more Americans have developed some immunity to COVID-19 from immunizations and previous infection. New variants continue to infect people with the most at-risk groups more susceptible to severe illness.

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]