New Hampshire officials are working with Maine and Seacoast mental health advocates to install suicide prevention signs on the Piscataqua River Bridge after three suicide attempts last week on Portsmouth bridges.Transportation officials said they are moving forward with a plan to install signs on the bridge listing the 988 National Suicide Crisis Lifeline after the suicide attempts last week.>> Get help: If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Crisis Lifeline at 988 “I think that that was highly unusual to have that occur in such a short amount of time,” said Portsmouth Fire Chief William McQuillen.The three suicide attempts on bridges in Portsmouth occurred within hours of each other.”There isn’t a single cause when individuals try to take their life,” said Dennis Walker, of Seacoast Mental Health Center.Walker said there are things that can help a person in crisis, such as signs reminding them that people care and there are resources out there.”A small sign can make a big impact on somebody,” he said.Similar signs are posted in Rye. The Department of Transportation said there are no plans at this time to install barriers or nets on the bridge.”Because we know many people, if there’s some delay, of course, if police can get on scene, it makes a huge difference,” Walker said.The signs list the National Suicide Crisis Lifeline, 988, on them. Calls are redirected to the 24/7 rapid response team in New Hampshire, which can offer help over the phone or dispatch its mobile response team to a person in need.Last year, there were 46,000 calls made to the line, with mobile response dispatched 7,000 times.”There’s help out there,” Walker said. “We really want people to know that.”>> Get help: If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Crisis Lifeline at 988
New Hampshire officials are working with Maine and Seacoast mental health advocates to install suicide prevention signs on the Piscataqua River Bridge after three suicide attempts last week on Portsmouth bridges.
Transportation officials said they are moving forward with a plan to install signs on the bridge listing the 988 National Suicide Crisis Lifeline after the suicide attempts last week.
>> Get help: If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Crisis Lifeline at 988
“I think that that was highly unusual to have that occur in such a short amount of time,” said Portsmouth Fire Chief William McQuillen.
The three suicide attempts on bridges in Portsmouth occurred within hours of each other.
“There isn’t a single cause when individuals try to take their life,” said Dennis Walker, of Seacoast Mental Health Center.
Walker said there are things that can help a person in crisis, such as signs reminding them that people care and there are resources out there.
“A small sign can make a big impact on somebody,” he said.
Similar signs are posted in Rye. The Department of Transportation said there are no plans at this time to install barriers or nets on the bridge.
“Because we know many people, if there’s some delay, of course, if police can get on scene, it makes a huge difference,” Walker said.
The signs list the National Suicide Crisis Lifeline, 988, on them. Calls are redirected to the 24/7 rapid response team in New Hampshire, which can offer help over the phone or dispatch its mobile response team to a person in need.
Last year, there were 46,000 calls made to the line, with mobile response dispatched 7,000 times.
“There’s help out there,” Walker said. “We really want people to know that.”
>> Get help: If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Crisis Lifeline at 988
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