Other views: It doesn’t have to end this way

Stress and frustration are unfortunately becoming the new norms in western North Dakota these days. Whether that stress is from flooding, increasing rents, rush hour traffic or anything else that life hands out, it’s important we all deal with it safely.

Help is out there.

FirstLink, a Fargo-based nonprofit, has a phone number that anyone in the state can call: 2-1-1.

As FirstLink tells us: “As of June 1, 447 suicide calls have been taken, an estimated 90 calls per month. FirstLink has the only call center in North Dakota who answers calls for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline; 2-1-1 makes it easier for those to make that call. 2-1-1 provides a supportive, non-judgmental listening ear for those that are in need.”

“FirstLink has a mission to assist people in identifying, accessing, and making effective use of community and volunteer resources. FirstLink is a nonprofit human services agency with programs including HotLine, Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Suicide Education Outreach, Suicide Survivor’s Support Group, Community Training, Volunteer Center, and Giving Tree of Hope. FirstLink has taken 2-1-1 as a way to assist people in finding resources across the state for free with three simple numbers: 2-1-1.”

We know of at least four suicides in the Williston area in the past year, and there were probably more than that. None of them had to happen. Life is too precious.

We know frustrations are running high. But help is available.

Tags: other views, opinion, firstlink