The Department of Health is now publicizing a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline.
A post on the Department of Health Face Book says:
YOU ARE LOVED and YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact our Behavioral Health professionals by calling our 24-hour suicide prevention hotline at 252-3502 or 770-1571.
Your call will be confidential, we will spend time listening and talking with you, we are here for you!
The same message is translated in Samoan.
The Department of Human and Social Services also has a hotline however it operates only from 7:30 am to 4 pm
Meanwhile a former court probation officer, Niuinitone Tamalii, who has worked with youth in difficult situations has received a lot of offers of support from volunteers to man a private hotline in response to a recent spate in young people taking their lives.
Tamali’i said he is working with Rep Samuel Meleisea who reached out after his service was publicized on KHJ News. They are seeking assistance from ASTCA for a dedicated line that will not cost the callers.
The lines currently used by Tamalii’s volunteer service are his home and business landlines and his private cell phone: 699-5960, 699-9791 and 258-5516.
According to Tamalii, Life Line, a national suicide prevention hotline has reported that since the beginning of this year they have received 9 calls from American Samoa.
We are still trying to obtain stats on suicides but have confirmed from family members that four occurred in the last week and a half, three males and one female.
