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HOUGHTON -- Over the past year, the Dial Help crisis center in Houghton has expanded its hours and seen a 70% increase in calls.

The organization sees the surge as a sign that they're now helping a lot more people--not necessarily that more people are in need of help.

Dial Help officials say they're trying to reduce the stigma of suicide and help-lines, and that's probably why more people are closing.

"There's a lot of room to prevent suicide," explains Kevin Weir, a community education specialist. "About 60% of people who kill themselves are suffering from depression. We know depression is one of the most treatable psychiatric illnesses with 80-90% of those people who get help actually reporting some positive relief."

Earlier this summer, Dial Help added an instant messaging option for people in crisis.

They say, it's been a great way to reach out to young adults.

For more information on Dial Help, click here.