The Suicide Prevention Center at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services will now provide 24-hour crisis hotline services to Spanish-speakers.
Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention program becomes the 11th member of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s Spanish sub-network, with more than 145 centers nationwide ensuring that every caller to its national toll-free number — 1-800-273-TALK — is connected to the closest available crisis center.
As word about the crisis line gets out, a dramatic increase in calls from the Latino community is expected.
“We know there is a great unmet need. Immediately after our staff are interviewed on Spanish-language radio or TV, calls to the crisis line double,” said Dr. Kita Curry, president and chief executive of Didi Hirsch, adding that the need appears to be increasing.
“Our suicide crisis response team, which offers immediate support at the scene of suicides, helped many more Latino families last year than the year before,” she said.
Marvin Southard, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, said that adding the 24-
hour Spanish-language capacity brings the county closer to “providing the culturally competent care our residents need and deserve.”
Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center, founded in 1958, was the first program in the country to establish a 24-hour suicide prevention crisis line. The line serves callers not only statewide, but across the country, and is managed by staff and trained volunteers who field more than 36,000 calls per year.
The Suicide Prevention Center also provides support for the friends and family of suicide victims, community outreach and training, and a Suicide Response Team that works alongside the Mayor’s Crisis Response Team, coroner’s office and local police and fire departments to provide immediate support at the scene of a suicide.
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services provides mental health and substance abuse services with nine sites in Los Angeles County serving 57,000 clients annually regardless of ability to pay.
