Volunteers at Louisiana’s 988 Helpline get an increase in the volume of calls and texts coming in during periods of brutally hot weather conditions. Sherrod Crespo with Via Link, the nonprofit which operates the 988 Helpline, says the fact that people normally get less sleep in hot conditions has a lot to do with it.
“When we can’t sleep; and then we are getting so agitated that the way that this extreme weather affects our bodies, affects the way we’re made up. We’re seeing more and more people who are having to reach out to things like 988 and the crisis line,” Crespo explained.
Crespo says if the heat is affecting your mental health to the point that you’re considering harming yourself or others, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out for help, regardless of the circumstances.
“We think sometimes someone might think it’s silly or it’s not a ‘crisis’ enough to reach out because of the heat. But we know that it very much is,” Crespo said.
Crespo says the people at the 988 Helpline are compassionate people who are there to help.
“It’s a safe space; you do not have to tell us who you are. We just want to hear from you. We don’t want you to have to carry anything alone,” Crespo noted.
More information about the 988 Helpline can be found at ldh.la.gov.