The Helpline Center began serving South Dakota in 1974 and serves thousands of people each year by connecting individuals to resources and support, providing referrals, building local agency’s volunteers, offering hope to individuals with thoughts of suicide, and supporting families bereaved by a suicide loss. The mission of the Helpline Center is making lives better by giving support, offering hope and creating connections all day, every day. We fulfill our mission through the following: 211 Helpline, 988 Lifeline, Suicide Prevention & Crisis Support, and Volunteer Connections, along with a variety of support programs.
988 launched on July 16, 2022, and since then more than 7,000 people have called, texted, and chatted with 988 Mental Health Counselors. When South Dakotans call, text or chat 988, they are connected to trained crisis counselors at the Helpline Center who listen to concerns, provide support, connect to additional resources and provide follow up care. 988 is available 24/7 to provide help and hope for people having thoughts of suicide, a mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. In South Dakota, 988 is a partnership between the Helpline Center and the South Dakota Department of Social Services – Division of Behavioral Health.
No matter how simple or complex, the Helpline Center staff is here for South Dakota, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With more than 5,000 programs and agencies in our database, 211 makes it quick and easy to connect individuals to the resources they need, when they are needed the most. Each day, the compassionate and committed Helpline Center staff provide help and support to people from across the state. Sometimes, the support is a simple question like, “where do I renew my driver’s license?”, or “where can I volunteer?” Other times our calls are more complex, “I recently lost my job and I’m struggling to pay rent, is there anywhere I can get help?” or “My family needs groceries, where is the nearest food pantry?” In 2022, the 211 Helpline staff responded to 77,661 calls/emails/texts, connecting people with important resources at critical times in their lives.
Each year more than 48,000 people die in the United States by suicide, leaving thousands of parents, siblings, wives, husbands, sons, daughters and friends to survive the tragic loss. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in South Dakota and it is the 2nd leading cause among ages 10 to 19. The grief experienced by survivors of suicide loss is unique and those left behind often struggle with guilt, shame and confusion. Losing a loved one to suicide can create a sense of isolation, which can often lead to depression and suicidal thoughts. The Helpline Center provides a point of connection for survivors, creating a safe space to share their pain through a support group or class, or as a Survivor Voices volunteer. Learn more at helplinecenter.org/loss.
The next time you are faced with an uncertainty in life simple or complex, remember the Helpline Center is there for you.