Chronic callers to a suicide prevention center.

Records of 67 chronic callers to the Cleveland Suicide Prevention Centers over the past 9 years are reviewed. Of this group, 51% were diagnosed as drug or alcohol dependent. It was also noted that 4 of the 67 were known to have committed suicide and that another 37 (55%) had made suicide attempts. A surprising finding was that 47% of the group was eventually referred to an ongoing treatment resource. Agency strategies for dealing with the chronic caller are discussed.