DENVER (Nov. 23, 2020) — Colorado Crisis Services continues to field a record-breaking number of calls and texts during the COVID-19 pandemic, topping 21,250 services last month alone.
Calls and texts to the crisis line have steadily increased during the pandemic. Compared to January and February of this year, average monthly volume is up more than 18 percent between March and October. The crisis line has exceeded 18,000 calls and texts in every month of the pandemic since May, reaching an all-time high of 21,250 contacts in October.
“With the ongoing pandemic, economic downturn, natural disasters and social unrest, it’s been a very challenging year for people across our state,” said Robert Werthwein, director of the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health, which oversees Colorado Crisis Services. “You don’t have to be diagnosed with a substance use or mental health condition to be struggling right now. We encourage all Coloradans to reach out anytime, for themselves or a friend.”
Crisis line staff answered more than 685 calls and texts each day in October. Throughout the pandemic, anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide have remained top reasons for contacting the crisis line.
Colorado Crisis Services provides residents with mental health, substance use or emotional crisis help, information and referrals. Its mission is to strengthen Colorado’s mental health system by providing Coloradans with greater access to crisis services, regardless of ability to pay.
If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs help dealing with one, call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 to speak to a trained professional. Learn more at coloradocrisisservices.org.
Media contact:
Lindsay Sandoval, Media Manager
Lindsay.Sandoval@state.co.us
720.594.0369