Suicide Prevention, 988, and the Drama Triangle with Debbie Dedrickson of Lines for Life

Melissa and Staci chat with Deborah Dedrickson, a master’s level clinician with extensive experience supporting adolescents and adults facing both mental health and substance use issues.  In a career spanning almost 3 decades, she has worked as a residential treatment provider, an outpatient therapist, a crisis intervention specialist, and a program director in a variety of settings.  Deborah currently works as the Director of Crisis Line Operations at Lines for Life, an Oregon-based non-profit dedicated to preventing substance abuse and suicide and promoting mental wellness.  In this role, she trains and supervises a team of 150 clinicians who answer calls on over 30 behavioral health support lines, including the state’s Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Drug and Alcohol Helpline, Youthline, Military Helpline, Senior Loneliness Line and Racial Equity Support Line.  In her 14 years at Lines for Life, she has personally answered thousands of crisis calls, bearing witness to the power of kindness and compassion to renew the spirit, build hope, inspire resilience and support recovery. Welcome, Debbie!