<div><strong>Save lives by funding staffing for South Carolina's only 988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline hotline center...</strong>
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<div>Mental Health America of Greenville County (MHAGC) serves the state of South Carolina with the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trained staff and volunteers complete over 60 hours of specialized training and provide non-judgmental active listening, information and connections to local resources and crisis intervention. Our incredible remote and in-person hotline workers give hope and save lives of youth and adults every day.  We are the ONLY Lifeline call center in the state and are certified by the American Association of Suicidology.
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<div>On July 16, 2022, a new, universal three-digit number for crisis and suicide prevention — 988 — will go into effect across the country. If call centers are funded, this easy-to-remember code will allow more people to get the support they need. <br /><br />988 South Carolina is expected to increase MHAGC's call volume by 4 to 10 times the current levels. <strong>This code goes into effect nation-wide, but it is up to each individual state to determine the sustaining funding mechanism.</strong>
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<div><strong>** MHAGC has secured the state-of-the-art facilities, space and technology needed to serve the entire state with 988 hotline services. We DON'T have the funds to staff the hotline to meet the expected increase in call volume. ** <br /><br /></strong>
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<div><strong>As of May 31, 2022, the state of South Carolina has NOT implemented a sustainable funding mechanism to support the trained counselors and volunteers needed to provide the 24/7 service. </strong>Until this funding is determined, we NEED YOU to help support the life-saving work of trained crisis intervention workers so that our call center can continue to save lives!<br /><br />Please note that this GoFundMe Goal is set at the call center's operating budget last year. Although the goal represents only 1/14th of the amount needed to staff the center to meet the anticipated 988 SC call volume increase, it will allow us to continue services at last year's level. <br /><br />
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<div><strong>THANK YOU for your support and GIVING HOPE to individuals in distress or crisis!</strong><br /><br />_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br /><br />***If you or a loved one are in emotional distress, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8256.**<br /> <br />(If your group is interested in organizing a fundraiser for or sharing information about SC's 988 crisis hotline operated by MHAGC, <a href="http://www.mhagc.org/contact.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">please contact us today</a> . If you are interested in learning more about in-person (in Greenville, SC) or remote (from anywhere in the country) hotline volunteer opportunities, please <a href="http://www.mhagc.org/volunteer.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">explore current volunteer opportunities here</a> . Thank you!)
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Staffing for SC's only 988 Crisis Call Center

Staffing for SC's only 988 Crisis Call Center

Still $1,297,554 to go. Help us build momentum.