In the News: suicide prevention; gas prices

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"For some, a cry for help can come from a few taps on a touch screen. 

While suicide prevention phone lines have long provided an outlet for people seeking help in times of crisis, text-based help lines have become increasingly common in recent years. 

“We had kicked around the idea for a number of years because we had seen an ongoing transition of younger people who prefer to communicate by texting instead of with their voice over the phone,” said Steve Mongeau, executive director of Samaritans Inc. “For younger people, not just teens but people under the age of 30, we thought a text option might open up more of an opportunity.” 

Since October 2015, Boston-based Samaritans has provided text messaging support on the Massachusetts Statewide Helpline, 1-877-870-HOPE (4673). Helpline staff and trained volunteers have responded to more than 6,000 text messages, an average of close to 500 per month and growing."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170908/suicide-prevention-text-lines-open-new-doors-to-help

Take a walk on the Town Common - World Suicide Prevention Day - Sep 10

"It could take several more weeks for gas prices to come back down to earth as oil refineries begin coming back online after Hurricane Harvey battered the Texas coast. 

“Harvey’s geographic path looks like it was crafted by the devil himself in terms of the impact on the refineries, said Tom Kloza, the global head of energy analysis for the Oil Price Information Service. “It lead to precautionary shutdowns of all Texas refineries, and, at worst, reduced about 40 percent of capacity east of the Rockies. In terms of scale, it was unprecedented.” 

In Massachusetts, gas prices surged 44 cents in the course of a week, according to AAA Northeast’s Sept. 5 survey of fuel prices. The $2.70 statewide average was the highest average price recorded in Massachusetts in two years, and the spike represents the sharpest increase since Hurricane Katrina lashed Louisiana in 2005."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170908/gas-prices-expected-to-remain-high-for-several-weeks-following-hurricane