Starting today, the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline will expand its hours.

The hotline - 1-800-273-TALK - recently received $75,000 which will help the hotline add an additional evening phone responder shift and expand its hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. That's four additional hours each evening.

Suicide is a critical problem in Idaho, which has the sixth-highest suicide rate in the nation and is the second-leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults in Idaho.

Trained Idaho phone responders can field substantially more calls from Idahoans who are in crisis or suicidal and connect them with key resources in their communities. The ISPH also will be able to offer follow-up calls to individuals seeking help.

"We are incredibly fortunate that St. Luke's Health System, the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, and United Way of Treasure Valley have taken a clear stand on the serious problem of suicide in our state and demonstrated their commitment to saving lives by supporting the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline," Hotline director John Reusser said.

The hotline offers callers:

* Emotional support

* Assessment of suicide risk

* Crisis intervention to those in imminent danger

* Links to local services

* Follow-up for those who exhibit suicide risk factors