Crisis on the Internet: Given that this is the age of the Internet, it was bound to happen. A volunteer on the Libertyville-based Connection Crisis Line recently answered a call for help from an out-of-state Internet user.
The caller was worried about a man who was sending suicide messages on computer e-mail. Because the messages originated in Illinois, the caller hoped a Crisis Line in this state would know how to obtain help.
After urging the caller to stay in touch with the man, Connection’s volunteer located hot lines and other assistance numbers and passed them along. But assistance did not end with the referral, according to Linda Wolff, a Crisis Line manager.
“The volunteer wanted to know that the out-of-state person felt satisfied that things had been done to help the problem,” Wolff said. “The caller was very pleased with the help the other crisis line in the man’s area was able to give.”
The incident was the first time Connection’s Crisis Line answered a computer-network call for help. “I’m not surprised it happened. Everyone has a home computer,” Wolff said. “I think it might very well happen again.”
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