Twin Falls, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Over the past six weeks, the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office has responded to 80 calls from people experiencing a mental health crisis. Combine that with the city’s response and the situation becomes even more dire. .
“We have spoken to more than 120 people in direct crisis that police have responded to,” said Lori Stewart of the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office.
Worse than the volume of calls, which has nearly doubled from a year ago, is the most common demographic.
“We know that we have more and more teenagers,” says Stewart.
For Twin Falls resident Tracey Parsons, every time she hears the story of someone who took her life, she goes home.
In 2019, she lost her sister Sydney to the same devastating fate.
“Sydney was lively, beautiful, loving, fun and always smiling,” said Parsons.
From the outside, Sydney looked like the last person to succumb to the ill effects of the mental health crisis.
But Parsons says it’s a story all too often.
“Suicide isn’t talked about. People don’t talk about mental health,” Parsons said. “I think we’ve been more and more at the forefront over the last few years, and this is incredible because we need to talk about it.”
So, in the years that followed, she decided to share her tragic story herself, in the hope that it would reach the right ears.
“If my story, my sister’s story, can save one person, if it can help one person, it will bring some light to this difficult road we have walked. .
Parsons is by no means alone in this effort.many Magic Valley organizations like love yourself When Magic Valley Suicide Recognition and Preventionprovides resources for people struggling with their own mental health.
“The premise of everything is to try to develop your own skills and to treat yourself the way you want others to develop their own skills to show love and treat you dear friends. It’s about supporting and encouraging,” said Blake Gardner of Love… Yourself.
After losing her son to suicide, Gardner started Love Yourself to share her family’s story.
“Let’s help each other before we hurt each other,” says Gardner.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, call our new suicide prevention hotline at 988.
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