{AN}[AN]

Suicide Survivors Day is this month.

That's putting a focus on the issue of suicide AND the roll out of the national suicide
hotline number.
{VO :41}[VO :41]
<CG: Appian Way / KSC Campus>
A-A-R-P reports ALL phone providers must route calls made to 9-8-8 to the suicide
hotline center by July ... 2022.
The change is in response to the growing suicide epidemic.
[FSC]
[TITLE = Suicide Rate Increases]
[BULLET 1 = 25.4% Nationwide]
[BULLET 2 = 62% in NH]
The United Health Foundation reports suicide nationwide increased over 25-percent from
1999 to 2016.
In New Hampshire... suicide increased 62-percent between 2009 and 2018.
[VO]
Mental health experts say suicide is the second leading cause of death for young adults in
America.
Experts say people need to ASK their friends or family members if they suspect the
person is feeling suicidal.
{BITE}[BITE]
<CG: Forrest Seymour / KSC Wellness Center>
("Sometimes a way to ask that question that may feel a little easier ... is to say ... to kind of
normalize it ... to say you know somebody in your situation might think about suicide ... I'm
wondering if you might be thinking about suicide.")
[15]
[OUTCUE= thinking about suicide]
{AN}[AN]
The F-C-C might also require phone carriers to have a text message option for 9-8-8.
This could make it easier for people who are deaf ... hard of hearing ... or have speech
disabilities to reach the hotline.