News & Events

Helpline Center’s news and events are the critical link between great community and the programs Helpline Center is involved in.

Volunteer of the Month

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities. By giving their time and talent, these groups and inviduals are set out to truly make a difference in the world. The Volunteer of the Month is an area-wide award program presented by the Helpline Center. The Volunteer of the Month Award is given to an individual, or a group of individuals, who exhibit an outstanding commitment to volunteer service. One award is given to a winner each month in the Sioux Empire and Black Hills. The Helpline Center sends out the Volunteer of the Month Nomination Form to area non-profit agencies each year. A winner is selected out of the nominations for each month, and a surprise celebration is held for the volunteer at the agency where the winner chooses to give their time. Click here to see our recent Volunteers of the Month.

Butterfly Release on Survivors of Suicide Loss Day - Nov. 23

Butterfly Release on Nov. 23

To commemorate International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on Saturday, November 23, the Helpline Center is hosting a butterfly release on that day for families who’ve lost loved ones to suicide. The free event will take place at 1:00pm at the Butterfly House and Aquarium located at 4320 S Oxbow Avenue in Sioux Falls. Registration is requested at https://helplinecenter.jotform.com/233036026905854.

Grief is a natural response to loss, but it can be an incredibly challenging and complex process — especially when the loss is due to suicide. This day and special event provides an opportunity for those who have lost a loved one to suicide to come together and grieve. There’s no knowing how someone will react or cope after a suicide. We all grieve in our own way and at our own pace. While grief can be painful and challenging, it also can carry several benefits.

Acknowledging Pain: It is essential for survivors to have a space and time to acknowledge their pain. It validates their emotions and experiences while helping them understand that it’s okay to have these feelings.
Healing and Recovery: Grieving provides an opportunity for survivors to process their emotions, which is a vital step in the healing and recovery process. This allows them to work through complex feelings, such as guilt, anger, sadness or confusion — which are all common after a suicide loss.
Community and Support: A designated time for grieving, like Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, allows people to connect with others who have experienced similar loss. Shared experiences can offer a huge source of support and comfort.
Remembering and Honoring: Grieving isn’t just about dealing with the pain but also remembering and honoring those we’ve lost. To keep their legacies alive and share their memory.

For more information about survivor resources in South Dakota, click here or call 988.

Request Free Marketing Materials

Marketing materials for Helpline Center, support programs, 211 and 988 are available for any business or group in South Dakota at no cost. This is a great opportunity to spread the message of the services and programs provided by the Helpline Center to those who may be in need. Schools, churches, hospitals, organizations and businesses are all common groups that request these materials.

If you are in the Sioux Falls area, you’re encouraged to pick up the items at the Helpline Center office at 3817 S Elmwood Ave between 8am and 5pm Monday through Friday (it’s will be on the shelf with your name on it). Please note that items will be avalable for pick up for 10 business days once you have received notification your item(s) are ready. We can also mail the marketing materials if requested (no cost).

Materials can be ordered online at https://www.helplinecenter.org/about-the-helpline-center/promotional-materials/.

Questions can be directed to marketing@helplinecenter.org.

988 Day on Sept. 8

Each year more than 48,000 people die in the United States by suicide. In addition to September being National Suicide Prevention Month and Sunday, September 8 being National 988 Day, the Helpline Center is honored to announce that Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken has proclaimed September 8-14 as Suicide Prevention Week. Click here to view the official proclamation.

“Raising awareness about suicide is critical to encourage those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts to reach out for help,” said Janet Kittams, Chief Executive Officer of the Helpline Center. “We need to come together as a community to offer support and provide a message of hope.”

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was launched nationally in 2022 and is available 24/7 for people having thoughts of suicide, a mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. Since 2022, trained 988 counselors around the country have responded to over 10 million calls, texts and chats. Since January 1, 2024, the 988 counselors at the Helpline Center have fielded 7,647 contacts, including calls, texts and chats. Once connected, 988 counselors listen, assess, provide support and create connections as well as provide follow up care.

In South Dakota, 988 is a partnership between the Helpline Center and the South Dakota Department of Social Services – Division of Behavioral Health. Both entities remain steadfast in their work to provide help and hope to individuals when it’s needed most. Click here for the South Dakota Suicide Prevention website for additional resources.

The Helpline Center invites South Dakotans to unite in promoting suicide prevention and awareness during the month of September, especially on Sunday, September 8 with the theme for 988 Day being “No Judgement. Just Help.”

The Helpline Center offers suicide prevention trainings, consultations for schools, grief support classes and other suicide awareness resources and programs. Statistics on the 988 calls received by the Helpline Center can be found by clicking here.

A Run Across South Dakota - There's Still Time to Donate!

The 437 Project was born of a passion for bolstering both physical and mental wellness and the often overlooked connection between the two. In 2024, The 437 Project ran 437 miles across the state of South Dakota, raising funds to support the Helpline Center.

This group of twelve runners is made up of community leaders who will stop at nothing to influence and create positive change in the Mount Rushmore State. On Thursday, September 19th, runners will departed from the west side of the state to begin the 437 mile relay-style journey. Tackling the ever-changing South Dakota weather and terrain, runners connected with communities as they raised funds and awareness for this initiative, which finished in Sioux Falls on Sunday, September 22nd.

There is still time to donate to this year’s project! Donations will wrap at the end of October, so get yours in soon!

International Overdose Awareness Event - August 31

Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Greenway Amphitheater

Every day, 295 lives are tragically lost to overdose in the United States. Nearly 80 percent of those are fueled by fentanyl. Let us come together as a community to honor and remember those who have died in this epidemic. By shining a light on their stories, we can raise awareness and advocate for change.

Our candlelight vigil will take place at the scenic Greenway Amphitheater, nestled in downtown Sioux Falls next to Cherapa Place and the iconic Arc of Dreams. In solidarity with this global event, the amphitheater and the Arc of Dreams will be illuminated in vibrant purple, the color that symbolizes International Overdose Awareness Day.

During the vigil, you will have the opportunity to hear firsthand from courageous families who have experienced the heart-wrenching loss of a loved one. Their stories will serve as a reminder of the devastating impact that substance use disorder, or even drug experimentation, can have on individuals and their families.

Additionally, we will have valuable information available on how to seek help and support for those struggling with addiction. Understanding the resources and avenues for assistance is crucial in addressing this crisis, and we aim to provide guidance to anyone seeking to make a difference.

For additional information, please click here.

Former MLB Player Shares Story of Hope

Strength Isn’t Always Physical

Join us to hear the inspiring story of how a life-changing decision led former Major League Baseball player Drew Robinson to a new passion for mental health. His compelling story fosters a message of hope and recovery. Drew played for two major league teams before attempting suicide in 2020. Since his retirement in 2021, he now serves as a mental health advocate for his former team. Drew will be speaking at two separate events in Sioux Falls on October 23, a luncheon event for business professionals and a free event in the evening that’s open to the public.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

11:30am – 1:00pm at The Country Club of Sioux Falls ($200 for table of 8, includes lunch)

7:00 pm at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (free event)

Celebrating 50 Years of Hope & Help!

For more than a half a century, we’ve connected people in need to the resources they need. With thousands of calls answered each year, we’re continuing our mission to make lives better by giving support, offering hope and creating connections all day, every day.

50th Anniversary Celebration in May 2024

: 50th Anniversary Celebration

Click image below to view the timeline of the agency.

988 Toolkit

The Helpline Center in partnership with the Department of Social Services created this 988 Community Education and Awareness Toolkit to share marketing and educational resources about 988 in South Dakota. We encourage you to use the materials in this toolkit to share information about 988 with your communities. The resources in this toolkit have been created to provide information to the public. With these materials, you can help members of your community learn:

What is 988
How 988 can help
When to contact 988
How to contact 988
And more!

Check it out here: 988 Toolkit

Surviving After Suicide Loss Support Group

The Helpline Center offers a variety of support services for survivors of suicide loss. One of the ways we support survivors is through our monthly support groups. We provide a safe, confidential space that looks to provide hope to survivors no matter where they are at in their journey. There is an in-person and virtual support group available.

In-person Group

Dates: Third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. CST
Location: 3817 S Elmwood Ave | Sioux Falls, SD 57105
There is no fee or registration required. Must be 18 years old to attend.

Virtual Group

Dates: Second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CST
Location: Online
There is no fee but registration is required. Must be 18 years old to attend.
Please register here.

Surviving After Suicide Class

Our class is a nine week education and support based class for adults designed to support survivors as they express and seek to understand the powerful grief they experience. Each class focuses on a unique aspect of survivor grief and is followed by a support session allowing members to share their stories. There is no fee for the materials or class. Registration is required and you can complete an online registration prior to the next class session. Classes begin each January, April and September.

If you have any questions please email us at griefsupport@helplinecenter.org