DUNCAN —
Heartline Inc. offers several different services to the state of Oklahoma but by working with the United Way of Stephens County office, they are able to bring support services and programs to areas and people in need.
Working phone-based services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Heartline operates help lines which help provide information and referrals for human services.
By dialing 211, advisers will be able to answer questions for people in need of help feeding their family and providing shelter.
“It is a place to call in for basic human needs,” Director of Development Lisa Harper said. “If you need help with food, shelter or health care, we can connect you to the closest resource. We’re a number for people to call to get help.”
The non-profit also runs the Oklahoma Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-522-4700) to provide assistance with those addicted to gambling and their families.
Calling 848-CARE (2273), the Family Careline can help parents who might need some assistance and families dealing with frustration and are looking for help with raising children.
The area United Way office helps by promoting the helpline telephone numbers and making sure information is distributed to the right source.
As part of a new initiative in the past year, Heartline is working with school districts across the state as they spread the word on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Harper said suicide is the third leading cause of death for ages 10-24 in Oklahoma and the state ranks 12th highest in the nation for deaths caused by suicide.
Stephens County is one of the early areas to be visited by the non-profit, hoping to educate teenagers on the early signs of suicidal tendencies.
The program is called Healthy Education for Life Program or HELP, which hopes to educate youth on the warning signs of suicide to provide support or point their friends in the correct direction for assistance.
During the presentation, students watch a video about people’s personal experiences with suicide, sharing their own thoughts of suicide and help explain how they got to that place, noticing changes in behavior and detailing what the students can do to help.
“As we tend to see, youth go to their friends before their parents or a councilor or teacher,” Harper said. “We want to teach them the early signs, to help connect that person and bring them to an adult. “
Duncan Middle School was visited by the program late 2011, Harper said and they hope to return again this year and are working on a date to return with the intent of trying to visit Duncan High School also.
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