Suicide Hotline Use Spikes After Election in Howard County: Report

COLUMBIA, MD — A suicide hotline in Maryland reportedly saw a spike in calls after the November election.

The 24-hour Grassroots Crisis Center hotline reports that it has received more than 32,000 calls in the past year.

The center received four times its normal call volume the night that the presidential election results were tallied, Tina Field-Barnett, a senior counselor at Grassroots Crisis Center in Columbia, said.

"I think the results were unexpected," Field-Barnett told Fox 45. "People were shocked."

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, there is no single cause leading to suicide, which may occur when stress exceeds the coping mechanisms of a person who struggles with mental health.

To increase access to resources, Grassroots launched an app earlier this year called There is Hope. Smartphone users can connect instantly with resources like a counselor or tips for talking to someone suicidal.

Suicide has been the tenth and eleventh leading cause of death in Maryland in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

There is Help

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-SUICIDE (or 1-800-784-2433). Its website offers services including a live chat.

Grassroots in Howard County operates a 24-hour crisis intervention and supportive counseling hotline at 410-531-6677. The center, located at 6700 Freetown Road in Columbia, also offers walk-in counseling for individuals in need of immediate support; there is no fee for service.

Related: Columbia Nonprofit Launches Suicide Prevention App with State Health Department

Image via Shutterstock.