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A record number of calls and texts to the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline (ISPH) has the organization looking for more and younger phone volunteers.
The hotline director says they will likely surpass last year's total of 6,000 calls sometime this week; and to keep up, the group is now expanding volunteer recruitment for the first time in its history to include 18-21-year-olds.
Organizers say they believe younger volunteers will be effective ISPH's crisis text program.
"I'm going to make a generalization about the young folks...but they're adept at technology and really comfortable with that sort of platform," said John Reusser, Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline Director. "So, we're really kind of intentionally reaching out to that cohort."
Volunteers undergo an intense 50-hour training program.
To learn more about volunteering, call Nina Leary at (208) 258-6992 or Sharon Lightning at (208) 813-3070. You can also visit www.idahosuicideprevention.org to apply.
