WARNING: This report discusses suicide. Those in crisis can seek help by calling or texting the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Colorado’s crisis and suicide lifelines reported a 32% increase in calls on Nov. 6, the day after the US presidential election.
The Colorado Crisis Lifeline and Colorado 988 Crisis and Suicide Lifeline both connect to the same call service center, which saw a notable uptick compared to the Wednesday before the election.
On October 30, both lifelines reported a call volume of 744 people. That increased to 985 callers on November 6, after the presidential election results were largely confirmed.
Cassie Villegas, chief of crisis services with Solari, said an increase in calls isn’t uncommon with any election or large-scale local or national event. Solari is the call center that answers both the Colorado Crisis Line and 988 calls.
“There are a lot of people experiencing anxiety over just not knowing what comes next. And that is not really dependent on who wins the election,” said Villegas. “It’s just any election. We just don’t know what’s going to happen next. And so I think people get a little bit anxious about that.”