Telling Floridians ‘We care’

It was wonderful to hear the 988 crisis response system is getting Florida’s attention. For several decades Orlando was the home of We Care, a suicide/crisis intervention program. It was in a local house, operated by a small staff and devoted volunteers who answered the telephone 24/7. Someone was always available to listen, provide emotional support and connections to appropriate services. We worked closely with schools and local service agencies, provided suicide support groups to students, spoke at life management classes and handled assistance after tragic events. In addition to the regular crisis line, there was a special hotline for teenagers. Trained crisis teams went out to callers who asked for help and callers were invited to talk at the office about their issues. We followed up on callers who accepted the invitation to have someone check on them.

Many of us are still in the area and, after We Care closed, work in similar fields as we were encouraged to do by the late Kathy Anderson, who mentored so many and instilled the philosophy of the Samaritans, based in England. The We Care program touched thousands of lives, proving the importance of supporting thosewith painful emotional issues. People reached out in a moment when life seemed hopeless and yet they still were willing to seek help. We Care provided that opportunity. This help is desperately needed today and the 988 program can make a difference. Those of us who worked the phones and programs saw the benefit, and perhaps our experiences could be helpful as 988 goes forward.

Maggie O’Connell Orlando