06-05-2025
988 signs part of Mental Health Awareness Month
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — There's another reason to highlight the importance of mental health right now.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
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Last year, the Helpline Center received 13,577 calls, texts, and chats through 988.
There are many reasons people dial the 988 number, including anxiety, thoughts of suicide, and substance use.
Yard signs highlighting 988 are now available for your yard.
The signs also offer messages of hope.
'Not everyone is aware that, similar to the 911 as an emergency resource number, they can dial those three numbers and they can get access to professional people to help them through their mental health challenges,' Helpline Center Suicide Prevention and Outreach Director Mike Keller said.
The nonprofit wants to see the free signs in front of homes and businesses all over the state.
'We do have them available in our offices in Rapid City and Sioux Falls, but we also have other distribution points throughout the state. We've had signs in Aberdeen, Watertown, Huron, Mitchell, and even in Pierre and Brookings too,' Helpline Center CEO Janet Kittams said.
The Helpline Center will also help host a pair of Mental Health 101 training sessions for the public this month.
'We want to strengthen people's understandings of mental health challenges and the resources available,' Keller said.
Those are just a few ways to get involved during Mental Health Awareness Month.
'I think we've had some problems with stigma surrounding mental health, so I think this is really opening up that conversation to talk about mental health and it's okay to bring those subject matters up,' Kittams said.
The first mental health training is Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the downtown library in Sioux Falls.
The second training is May 27 at Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls starting at 5 p.m.
The trainings are put on by the Sioux Falls Suicide Prevention Task Force.
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