Caltrain is the first rail service to partner with a national nonprofit that assists people who are having suicidal thoughts through text messages.
The train service has seen dozens of intentional deaths on its right-of-way throughout the years, including 17 of the 20 track fatalities in 2015 being ruled as suicides, Caltrain spokeswoman Tasha Bartholomew said.
“We realize that there is a problem. Most times they are intentional acts and not accidents,” she said.
Caltrain is one of many Bay Area groups announced Thursday as a partner with Crisis Text Line, a national nonprofit that guides people in crisis 24/7 over text messages, with more than 25,000 conversations in the Bay Area since its 2013 launch.
The texting service supplements an 800 number displayed for riders if they’re feeling depressed, having suicidal thoughts or have a mental disorder, Bartholomew said.
While the agency can’t stop all deaths on its tracks, it has worked to help the public through its suicide prevention initiatives, she said.
Beginning Monday, Caltrain commuters can expect to see more signs on platforms and trains displaying the nonprofit’s text message service, Bartholomew said.
Anyone seeking help in a crisis can contact Crisis Text Line by texting “BAY” to 741741. Those interested in becoming a crisis counselor can visit crisistextline.org/volunteer.
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