When is law enforcement needed for suicide hotline calls?
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE
WHERE WAKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPUTY SHOT OF AN EARLY TUESDAY
OFFICIALS FROM THE SBI SAY THE
DEPUTIES WERE RESPONDING TO
A SUICIDE CALL AFTER A 22 YEAR
OLD CALLED A CRISIS HOTLINE.
>> THAT CALL BUT OPERATORS TO
GET LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED.
WRAL. SEAN GALLAGHER IS LOOKING
DEEPER INTO THE DIFFERENT
STRATEGIES TO HELP PEOPLE IN
CRISIS
>> IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
WAKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES
WERE CALLED TO THIS HOME
CONCERNS OVER SOMEONE'S
WELL-BEING POINT IN THE CRISIS
LAWN WAS TIME TO JUST CALL IT
THE LIFELINE. KELLY CROSBY IS
THE DIRECTOR OF MENTAL HEALTH
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES. SHE HELPS
OVERSEE 9, 8, 8, THE STATE'S
CRISIS HOTLINE MORNING IN THE
LAST YEAR. MORE THAN 130,000
PEOPLE HAVE CONTACTED THE STATE
FOR HELP. LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS
DISPATCHED TO THESE CALLS 471
TIMES LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF
THE TOTAL CALLS AT THE PINNACLE
OF CRISIS. YOU MAY FEEL LIKE
NOT WANTING TO BE HERE ANYMORE.
>> AND WE DEFINITELY WANT YOU
TO REACH OUT AND CALL. BUT
THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
THE 130,000 PLUS CALLS 9, 8, 8,
RECEIVED LAST YEAR IN NORTH
CAROLINA. ABOUT 8100 MADE
THREATS OF SELF-HARM AGAIN.
COMPARE THAT TO THE 471 TIMES
LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONDED.
PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE THOUGHTS
OF NOT WANTING TO BE HERE
ANYMORE ARE HARMING THEMSELVES.
THAT'S ONE THING. BUT HAVING A
>> PLAN IS ANOTHER LEVEL.
AND THEN HAVING MEANS OR
METHOD. CERTAINLY ARE BEING IN
AN UNSAFE SITUATION OR SPACE.
SO THEY'RE KIND OF LIKE LEVELS
OF URGENCY. ALL WE KNOW FROM
TUESDAY MORNING HAS WHAT WE
CAN HEAR OVER BROADCASTIFY
RADIO TRAFFIC.
>> WELL, FOR HIM TO CALL IT IN
A BUS, WHO'S GOING TO JUMP OFF.
BUT IN OTHER INSTANCES, 9, 8,
8, WILL DISPATCH MOBILE CRISIS
TEAMS THAT HAPPENED MORE THAN
8,000 TIMES LAST YEAR. NEARLY
18 TIMES AS OFTEN AS LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESPONSES BECAUSE A
SENSITIVE SITUATION CAN GO SOUR
QUICKLY LIKE IT DID TUESDAY
MORNING.
>> SEAN GALLAGHER REPORTING.
SO IT'S UNCLEAR IF THE 22
YEAR-OLD CALLED 9, 8, 8, OR
ANOTHER CRISIS LINE
UNAFFILIATED WITH THE STATE.