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Abstract
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In early 1967, Dr. Franklin Osberg, Director of Admissions at Colorado State Hospital, Pueblo, Colorado, became aware of a significant behavioral pattern evidenced by patients being admitted to the State Hospital. Many of these people, in the course of the admitting interview, spoke about suicidal thoughts, gestures, attempts, escape fantasies, etc. Armed with this information, Dr. Osberg began a very thorough and serious study of suicidology, reading extensively as well as making personal visits to a number of the existing centers.
After steeping himself in knowledge about and feasibility of Suicide Prevention Center, Dr. Osberg began to "buttonhole" various influential people in the Pueblo community. With such statistics as: Colorado ranking fifth in the nation in suicides; Pueblo having twice the national rate of suicides per 100,000 people; young adult suicides increasing; and the lack of any emergency-scaffolding crisis center in the area, he found a number of people willing to back his proposal that Pueblo establish such a Center.
Along with the influential people, Dr. Osberg gave lectures (as well as presenting the film, Cry For Help) to civic groups, church groups, school personnel and students. A suicide Commission was formed early in1968. In March of 1968 William Griglak, clinical psychologist, was named as Director. In April, Dr. Michael Peck and Mr. Sam Heilig of the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center arrived to conduct a weekend workshop for the first class of volunteers. Through a month-long, intense screening and training process, the ninety original applicants resulted in thirty five, trained volunteers...
The original starting date of May 1, 1968, was delayed due to a telephone strike! Finally, at midnight of May 14, 1968, the Center officially began. Switchboard facilities were provided by the Pueblo Fire Department--with the Suicide Center having its own phone number (544- 1133) trunked off of their main line. This type of arrangement was used - with varying degrees of success - until April of 1969 when the Center contracted with an answering service, which directly shunts the call to the volunteer on duty.
Language: en |