Quantcast

MN Text Hotline a Lifeline in Teens' Pockets - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

MN Text Hotline a Lifeline in Teens' Pockets

Posted: Updated:
  • MN Text Hotline a Lifeline in Teens' Pockets

Update

Minnesota lawmakers are moving to set up a statewide text message suicide prevention program.

The House Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday passed a bill that would take a seven-county pilot program in northeastern Minnesota to the state level. That program, called TXT4Life, lets teens get in touch via text message with counselors.

Officials who help run that program say teens would rather send a text than call for help. TXT4Life counselors have talked with 400 people a month, on average. The state's suicide prevention phone line gets fewer than 15 calls per month.

Rep. Mike Sundin, an Esko Democrat, says he had that demand in mind with his bill. He says the state may need to provide $2.5 million annually to fund the program.

 


Original Story

Minnesota lawmakers are considering setting up a statewide text message suicide prevention program.

The proposal would establish a prevention text line that people who need help can contact to get emergency contact information. It would also provide training in schools and communities about how to use the new program.

Rep. Mike Sundin, an Esko Democrat, has the bill, which the House Health and Human Services Policy committee is set to take up Wednesday.

The state would fund the program, but the bill doesn't yet state how much it would need in funding.

After receiving a $1.4 million federal grant to set up a text hotline, Carlton County officials said last year they got as many text messages from teens in a day as they used to get in a month.

 

 

  • Local News

  • Tens of thousands march around the world today, hoping to protect our nation's foods from possibly unhealthy practices. They're protesting the process of genetically modifying crops; and it's a message
    Tens of thousands march around the world today, hoping to protect our nation's foods from possibly unhealthy practices. They're protesting the process of genetically modifying crops; and it's a message
  • According to KFGO, Fargo Police are installing three more surveillance camera's downtown. The camera's will go up in the 400 block of Broadway and should be operational next week. Police Chief Keith
    According to KFGO, Fargo Police are installing three more surveillance camera's downtown. The camera's will go up in the 400 block of Broadway and should be operational next week. Police Chief Keith
  • Residents should be on alert, as the Minnkota Chapter of the American Red Cross in Fargo has been notified that a person representing themselves as a Red Cross worker has contacted homes in the region
    The Minnkota Chapter of the American Red Cross in Fargo has been notified that a person representing themselves as a Red Cross worker has contacted homes in the region requesting credit card donations for the relief efforts in Moore, Oklahoma.
Powered by WorldNow
Powered by WorldNowAll content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and Valley News Live. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.