Health Headlines - 4-13-20

In today's health headlines we talk about how it is hard for some to quote with the Coronavirus and mental health hotlines are receiving many more calls but they continue to offer full services for anyone that needs assistance.

AS THE CORONAVIRUS CRISISCONTINUES TO IMPACT THE LIVES OFPEOPLE AROUND THEWORLD... SOME ARE FINDING ITVERY DIFFICULT TO COPE.AS STEVE PATTERSON TELLS US...MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS HOTLINES..ARE SEEINGA SURGE IN CALLS..

FROM PEOPLEWORRIED ABOUT THE VIRUS.NATSOT "SUICIDE PREVENTIONCENTER CRISIS LINE.

MY NAME ISREBECCA, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"24 HOURS A DAY -- CRISISCOUNSELORS AT CALIFONRIA'SDIDI-HIRSCH SUICIDE PREVENTIONCENTER, FIELD AN ENDLESS BARRAGEOF CALLS... FROM PEOPLE AT THEIRLOWEST MOMENTS.THE NATION'S OLDEST AND LARGESTSUICIDE HOTLINE -- AVERAGESABOUT 130-THOUSAND CALLS EVERYYEAR.THE COMPANY PROVIDED VIDEO TOGIVE US A LOOK INSIDE THEOPERATION.:26"OUR JOB IS REALLY TO PROVIDEEMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO THOSE THATARE EITHER IN SUICIDAL CRISIS OREMOTIONAL CRISIS, WHETHER THAT'SCAUSED BY A DISASTER OR NOT."CAROLYN LEVITAN OVERSEES THEHUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS ANDWORKERS ANSWERING THEPHONES EVERY-DAY."THEY'RE THERE TO BE EMPATHETIC,TO VALIDATE WHAT SOMEONE'SEXPERIENCING AND TO ALSOPROVIDE RESOURCES AND OTHEROPTIONS OTHER THAN SUICIDE."NOW -- WITH CASES OF THECORONAVIRUS RIPPLING ACROSS THECOUNTRY, MILLIONS ISOLATING ATHOMEAND HUNDREDS DYING EVERY DAY...THE HOTLINE'S CALL VOLUME ISEXPLODING WITH FEARS ABOUT THEDISEASE.BY THE END OF FEBRUARY -- JUST20-CALLERS EXPRESSED WORRY ABOUTTHE VIRUS...BY THE END OF MARCH -- THATNUMBER SKYROCKETED... TO OVER18-HUNDRED -- WITH ONE INFIVE EXPRESSING A DESIRE FORSUICIDE."IT'S VERY CONCERNING ANDTRAUMATIC FOR PEOPLE, WE'RESEEING AN OVERALL INCREASE INCALLS.

WE'RESEEING AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASEIN OUR COVID RELATED CALLS.

SOWE'RE NOTICING CRISIS IN THECOMMUNITY."NATS UP CRISIS COUNSELOR: AND SODO YOU STILL STRUGGLE WITH THOSETHOUGHTS?TOP CONCERNS RANGE FROM EXTREMEANXIETY AND STRESS -- TO FEARSABOUT HEALTH ISSUES,RELATIONSHIPS, LONELINESS,ISOLATION AND MOREINCREASINGLY... JOB LOSS ANDFINANCIALSTABILITY."THEY'RE SIMULTANEOUSLY DEALINGWITH OTHER STRESSORS, SUCH ASBEING ISOLATED, BEINGDISCONNECTED FROM SOCIALSUPPORTS.

LOSING ONE'S JOB,BEING FURLOUGHED."I SPOKE TO BI-LINGUEL CRISISCOUNSELOR APRIL ROSAS FROM HERHOME -- AT THE END OF AWEEK-LONG QUARANTINE.1:53"WE HAVE TO PUT OUR FEELINGSASIDE BECAUSE THEY LOOK TO US TOBE THAT VOICE OF COMFORT."THERE ARE A FEW NUMBERS THAT AREIMPORTANT HERE.THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTIONLINE, 1-800- 273-8255 AND THEDISASTER DISTRESS HELPLINE,1-800-985-5990.IMPORTANT RESOURCE FRO ANYBODYTHAT'S FEELING ANXIETY RIGHTNOW.