Posters and yard signs promoting the new 988 Crisis Hotline are being made available to the community by the Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition. The group’s Trent Watford tells us the hotline has been promoted since the start of the year, but many people still don’t know about it.
“We’ve found that there’s just a lot of people who don’t know that the Suicide Crisis Life Line has been changed to the three digit number, 988,” Watford said. “So, we’re just trying to get the community to be aware of that number.”
Watford says the coalition has printed hundreds of yard signs that anyone can pick up from one of its partners.
“We’re hoping that people will volunteer to get a sign and put it up, maybe at a business or a busy intersection…We’d like to get them out there where they can be seen by the community.”
Watford says the 988 hotline can be called by anyone experiencing a crisis or by their loved ones. A caller will be connected to a trained advisor who can guide them to the right services. 988 has replaced the old national suicide hotline. Locations where signs can be picked up include Riverwood, the Berrien County Veteran Services office, and the Corewell Health Meadowbrook office.
Instructions for picking up a sign:
Riverwood
1485 M-139, Benton Harbor, Building 2 (building in the back)
The receptionist will have them. (8-5 PM)
Berrien County Veteran Services office
701 Main Street, St. Joseph
The receptionist will have them. (8-5 PM – not in the office from 12:30-1:30 PM)
Corewell Health Meadowbrook office
2550 Meadowbrook Rd, Benton Harbor
Email Terri Albers to coordinate pick up: terri.albers@spectrumhealth.org
Employee Assistance Program office
3888 Niles Rd, St. Joseph
Email Kristen Jones to coordinate pick up: kristen.jones3@corewellhealth.org
