KNOW WHERE HE IS, CALL 9-1-1. >> WELL, THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE. AND FOR MANY OF US, THAT MEANS FUN WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME OKLAHOMANS, THIS COULD BE ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES OF THE YEAR REALLY CAN ARE PROUD TO SERVE. REPORT QUAIL CREEK BANK IN NEWS. 4 ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE TEAM. >> AT THE 9, 8, 8, MENTAL HEALTH LIFELINE AND THE HELP THEY OFFER TO SAVE LIVES. >> THE COUNSELORS AT THE 9, 8, 8, MENTAL HEALTH LIFELINE TO REALLY LIKE IMPORTANT FIRST RESPONDERS FOR PEOPLE DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE. >> A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THE REST OF THE NATION AND HOW WE MARKETING, COMMUNICATE WHAT IT IS. SO WE CALLED THE 9 MENTAL HELP LIFELINE BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO REACH OUT BEFORE IT'S A CRISIS. IF YOU DIAL OR TEXT 9.88, YOU'RE VERY QUICKLY CONNECTED TO SOMEONE TO HELP ON.
AVERAGE WILL RECEIVE ABOUT 150 CALLS A DAY. WE ALSO RECEIVED TEXT MESSAGES. WE STARTED THE TEXT MESSAGE PROGRAM IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. SO RECEIVED ABOUT 3,000 TEXT MESSAGES SO FAR. ONE OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT WE KNOW ARE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS RIGHT NOW MORE THAN THEY'VE EVER EXPERIENCED AS A YOUNGER GENERATIONS. SO THAT'S WHY WE DEFINITELY HAVE THE TEXT OPTION. ANY INFORMATION FROM THE CALLS OR TEXT TO 9, 8, 8, REMAINS CONFIDENTIAL. AND THE COUNSELORS ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE ARE CARING PROFESSIONALS. I BORN AND RAISED IN OKLAHOMA SAID THE STATE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. >> AND ALLOWING OKLAHOMANS TO HAVE FREE AND UNFETTERED ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT THEY NEED IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. WHETHER THAT'S A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS OR CRISIS AND NEEDS OR RESOURCES HAVING ANOTHER OKLAHOMAN OR HUMAN BEING HERE. >> TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT WITH YOU IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
OKLAHOMA'S 9, 8, 8, IS BEING NOTICED ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THE WORK IT'S DOING TO SAVE LIVES IN OKLAHOMA. >> IS LEADING THE CHARGE AND HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT WATCH. >> THIS PROGRAM CREEP BANKING NEWS FOR HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THIS INCREDIBLE STAFF WHO ARE THERE TO PROVIDE HELP WHEN OKLAHOMANS NEED IT. THE MOST DEPUTY COMMISSIONER HAYES QUAIL CREEK BANK AND NEWS 4. >> PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUR SERVICES HERE FOR THE 9, 8, 8, SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US.
WE ALSO WANT TO PRESENT THIS $500 DONATION TO MENTAL HEALTH. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WHAT YOU DO FROM HOME. ABSOLUTE FIRST RESPONDERS, 9, 8, 8, CRUCIAL AND ON. >> THRILLED THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING THROUGH BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SUCH IMPORTANT AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT SERVICE. OUR STATE IS REALLY STEPPING UP AND TAKING THOSE CALLS AND HELPING THOSE INDIVIDUALS NEED TONY STELTER, DIRECTOR OF 9, 8, 8 MENTAL HELP LIFELINE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPACT THIS TEAM IS MAKING IN OUR STATE. >> THE MISSION OR IS TO INSPIRE HOPE. AND MY STAFF DO THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY THERE ARE A GROUP OF TRAINS, AWESOME, COMPASSIONATE, LOVING INDIVIDUALS WHO DEDICATED TO OKLAHOMANS AND HELPING THEM.
I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT MY STAFF AND ARMIES AND THEY ARE THE STAFF OF 9, 8, 8, MENTAL HEALTH LIFELINE PROVIDES CRUCIAL HELP AND HOPE FOR OKLAHOMANS. 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. >> GREAT WORK. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE A FIRST RESPONDER, YOU THINK DESERVES A LITTLE RECOGNITION..