Oregon Public Broadcasting

A group that runs telephone help lines around Oregon says it's receiving a record number of calls from people saying they're feeling suicidal. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

The Oregon Partnership has been running help lines since the early 1990's.

But 2009 was the first year it received more calls from people threatening suicide, than from people looking for help with drug or alcohol addiction.

Crisis line director, Leslie Storm, thinks the economy is largely responsible.

Leslie Storm: "I think people are hurting. I mean the recession has been lasting a long time.  You know, you just keep hearing about more and more lay-offs. I think people are really lost and sometimes the only way people can reach out is to a stranger."

Storm says the hot lines are getting a growing number of calls from veterans as well as active soldiers and their families.

In total, the Oregon Partnership received 28 percent more calls in 2009 than the year before.

Storm says they're always looking for volunteers.