2023-11 FirstLink End of Year Newsletter

December 2023

WE’RE

HERE FOR

YOU 2023 YEAR END

NEWSLETTER 2023 has been a year of many changes for FirstLink. We started off the year adjusting to our new office space. Compared to our numbers in 2022, calls, chats, and texts have increased by 50% so far this calendar year. Our new office space allowed us to grow our team to reflect the increase in help-seekers being connected to FirstLink. To ensure that we are available to answer calls for help 24 hours a day, we currently have 21 full-time staff, 13 part-time, and three interns!

OUTREACH

UPDATE

FirstLink had a busy year traveling across North Dakota to provide trainings on mental health and suicide. In 2023, our outreach team visited communities within every region of North Dakota and had the opportunity to train community members from various backgrounds. So far, FirstLink has facilitated 97 trainings reaching over 2,500 participants.

Our team presented Mental Health First Aid over 25 times! Other trainings we provided include Meet FirstLink, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, Suicide Risk Assessment, and safeTALK! 98% of screened participants indicated an increase in skills after attending one of our trainings.

We’ve also had a great year attending events hosted by our partners and other human service agencies across the state. When attending events, FirstLink will host a table or booth to provide information to attendees about our services and usually feature a fun self-care activity. This year, we reached over 5,300 people at community booths!

As our outreach efforts continue to grow, so does our team. We’ve brought on Ellie as our new Outreach & Training Specialist. Ellie was previously our Helpline Supervisor and brings great experience to our team. We’re thrilled to enter 2024 with even more capacity to spread knowledge and awareness of FirstLink’s mission!

You can learn more or register at

www.myfirstlink.org/trainings

A letter from Executive Director

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Care and Support

PROGRAM The FirstLink Care and Support Program had a great 2023.

By the end of September, we had already made 8,256 Care and Support calls. We have also provided comfort and encouragement through our Caring Cards. Caring Cards are handwritten notes with FirstLink’s information included so that our participants know that we are thinking of them and that we are there whenever they need to talk. We average about 80 caring cards and 75 texts to participants a month.

The FirstLink Care and Support program is open to anyone who calls 211 or 988 for mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, substance use, or suicidal ideation.

The best way to showcase the positive impact this program has is through direct quotations from the participants. The following are examples of the feedback we received from our participants just this last month.

“I really appreciate you guys calling and checking in on me. I have been struggling with my health and knowing that there are people that care about me helps me to keep fighting. You are all blessed, and I hope that others share how much they appreciate you as well.”

“I look forward to these calls. Even if I don’t have anything to talk about, it is good to know that there are people who care about me and how I am doing.”

We look forward to supporting our current participants and anyone referred to us in the future as the Care and Support program grows!

We are excited to continue to support our participants and work to grow the Care and Support Program.

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Respectfully,

Jennifer Illich Jennifer Illich

Executive Director FirstLink

HOW TO HELP SOMEONE YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT From the most recent statistics from the CDC in 2020, an estimated 1.2 million suicide attempts were made and over 45,000 deaths occurred by suicide in the same year.

Although conversations regarding suicide and suicidal ideation are becoming more acceptable discussions to have, there is still a lot of stigma that surrounds the topic.

In North Dakota, our suicide rates have increased from 2019 to 2020 ranking us 16thin the nation. This rate is too high.

The fact of the matter is that there are strategies available to all of us that can help our communities prevent suicide.

September is National Suicide Prevention month. A challenge from us at FirstLink to the state of North Dakota is to make suicide prevention a priority, not only during this month of awareness, but every month for the good of our communities.

988 UPDATE We celebrated the 1-year anniversary of the 988 Lifeline this past July. Our contacts grew by over 2,000 this year, requiring us to add more staff, technology, and space to our center. Our call specialists began answering chat and text messages through 988, averaging about 4 per day since the beginning of the year. Being able to talk via chat or text has encouraged younger populations to reach out for hope when they need it.

Our 988 Coordinator, Rachel, and our Care and Support Coordinator, Trinity, went to Utah for a conference where they were able to meet with similar centers and collaborate on strategies to better serve our communities.

FirstLink has started working with a dispatch center to take calls that are requesting nonemergency-related referrals or who are requesting to speak with a crisis counselor.

We have already surpassed the number of contacts compared to last year and suspect we will reach 10,000 on the 988 Lifeline by the end of 2023.

One of the greatest services we can provide to someone who we believe to be at risk is listening to them and providing them support. It is okay to be upfront and ask someone, “Are you thinking about suicide?” Contrary to popular belief, asking someone if they are feeling suicidal will not encourage them to attempt suicide. If you don’t feel comfortable having this conversation, reach out by call or text to FirstLink at 9-88. Our trained call specialists provide free and confidential support 24/7 for people in distress. 9-8-8 is available nationwide if you’re thinking of suicide, are concerned about a friend or loved one, or just need emotional support.

#BETHE1TO: Ask: Research suggests that acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce suicidal ideation.

Keep Them Safe: Reduced access to lethal

means leads to a reduction in overall suicide rates.

Be There: Those suffering are more likely to

feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed and more hopeful after speaking to someone who listens without judgment.

Help Them Connect: Helping someone at risk create a network of resources and individuals for support and safety can help them take positive action and reduce feelings of hopelessness.

Follow Up: Studies show that brief intervention and supportive, ongoing contact may be an important part of suicide prevention.

(Participate: Have the Conversation. Lifeline. (n.d.).

Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://988lifeline.org/participate/)

4342 15th Ave S #201A Fargo, ND 58103

SUCCESS STORIES A texter responded to our conversation by saying:

I really appreciate your help. I got all the links. Just know what you do helps people and I thank you for helping me get better.

When the Call Specialist told the caller, “I hope your day gets better,” the caller replied “It already has because of you, friend. I really appreciate it.”

I actually feel much better now after talking. I didn’t even know this program existed. Thank you.

UPCOMING EVENTS Meet FirstLink - Virtual November 16th 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. CST

Suicide Risk Assessment: Live One Hour Webinar December 5th 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. CST

safeTALK December 12th 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CST

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training January 23rd - 24th, 2024 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. CST

SCAN HERE FOR REGISTRATION