SLO Hotline has a new local and toll free phone number (805/800) 783-0607 that will provide greater access to services in the San Luis Obispo County community. SLO Hotline is a suicide prevention and mental health crisis line that is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Confidential telephone services are always available for anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis through this program. SLO Hotline is also available to answer less urgent calls from anyone in need of emotional support or mental health information or referrals.
Compassionate and highly-trained SLO Hotline staff and volunteers are available around the clock to answer calls from the community. SLO Hotline Volunteers learn the skills required to aid in suicide prevention, defusing crisis situations and providing emotional and mental health support. Spanish-speaking call specialists are also available.
“SLO Hotline is a valuable resource in the community, supporting the work of local government and mental health service agencies and relieving call volume for the local 911 service,” said Mike Bossenberry, program manager. Last year, nearly 4,000 calls were made to SLO Hotline by people in crisis or in need of support.
SLO Hotline is a program of Transitions-Mental Health Association, a community-based nonprofit. It began as a local crisis support and resources referral hotline and continues its service to the community now with a stigma-reduction, mental health recovery and suicide prevention mission.
“In addition to providing these services, SLO Hotline strives to reduce stigma, educate and inform our community about mental illness – what it is and is not,” said Jill Bolster-White, executive director of TMHA.
Additionally, SLO Hotline will refer callers with other needs to 211, the resource phone number available for all other community information and referral needs. 211 is a program of United Way.