Gov. Haley, United Way Tout Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Submitted by Office of Gov. Nikki Haley

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley and representatives from The United Way have joined in an effort to bring attention and awareness to the issue of suicide by promoting “2-1-1,” The United Way’s suicide-prevention telephone lifeline. 

The most recent numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that there were 38,364 suicide related deaths nationwide in 2010. In 2011, there were 652 suicide related deaths in South Carolina according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

 The United Way developed the lifeline to help reduce these numbers. The program is available in all 46 counties of South Carolina and can also be accessed at www.sc211.org. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and includes a network of 150 call centers throughout the nation.

“I am very grateful to The United Way for partnering with us and working to spread the word about the suicide prevention lifeline,” said Haley. “People in crisis, both adults and children, need to know they aren’t alone, that there are trained professionals waiting and willing to help them. The option for active military and veterans is especially important today – it’s about neighbors helping neighbors and taking care of those who take care of us.”

 The governor and The United Way encourage anyone in crisis or concerned about someone else to dial “2-1-1” to be connected with certified crisis center personnel. 

Veterans, active military, and their families can dial “2-1-1” and then “1” to be connected with a separate veteran’s crisis line.