Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Oct 12/01) - Organizers with the Inuvik Suicide Crisis Line are looking for more volunteers.

A recruitment session takes place Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Inuvik Centennial Library.

"We're looking for as many volunteers as possible," Pam McDonald said.

She explained that during the winter many people are often out of town, so the more volunteers are helping out, the better.

The suicide crisis line began in March, and its number is 777-1234. Volunteers are prepared to handle calls from 5 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. on weekdays, plus all during the weekends and on holidays.

On work days from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. calls are referred to the Family Counselling Centre.

Volunteers are broken up into groups of three, with each group being responsible for answering calls for one week.

McDonald has been involved with the line since it began, as has Lillian Wright.

Wright hopes more native people will volunteer.

"There's a lot of native people that attempted suicide, and some committed suicide. I think a lot of people are hurting," Wright said.

"If they come and volunteer, they can help themselves too, when they're helping somebody else."

Two members of Wright's family committed suicide.

"I understand when people phone in, what they're going through," Wright said.