Forty-eight calls routed to 2-1-1 Brevard via the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the four days after Robin Williams’ death by suicide.
That compares with 10 in the same four days of the previous week.
“If there’s something positive coming out of it, then it is this conversation,” 2-1-1 Brevard executive director Libby Donoghue told “Florida Today” for an article in the aftermath of the actor-comedian’s death on Aug. 11.
“It’s important for family and friends to know that there are resources to help them,” she said in the article published Aug. 20. “There’s never one simple thing that leads to suicide. People are struggling with a variety of issues, and depression is an illness.
“It can be difficult to get help, but there is help and it is possible to recover.”
2-1-1 Brevard is part of a network of NSPL partner call centers and receives a small stipend to participate. Calls that originate in the 321 area code are directed first to the local helpline specialists.
“If none of our specialists are available, the call moves to another center in the network,” Donoghue said. “In the same way, calls from other area codes route to us.
“Most important is connecting the callers with someone trained in crisis and suicide intervention.”
2-1-1 Brevard recently was a reaccredited by the American Association of Suicidology.
The NSPL hotline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Brevard callers also may dial 2-1-1.