BENEFITS WITH FRIENDS: Laughs fuel hotline, break stigma

The Arkansas Crisis Center helps people through some serious situations, so it may seem counterintuitive to have a comedic fundraiser for the nonprofit organization.

Organizers of Humor for the Hotline disagree. Jenni Kirstein, development director for the center, says the idea came from a comedian whose family had been affected by suicide. Amy Pannell, a Little Rock radio show host, approached the center to do a show to “use humor to help break the stigma of suicide in our community. Suicide is a heavy topic, but we all know laughter is the best medicine.”

Eric Counts will headline the group’s second annual funny fundraiser. Counts was named 2011 Arkansas’ Funniest Person.

Also on the bill are the evening’shost, Ched “Ugly Uncle” Carpenter, and Danny Atchley.

The center’s Crisis Hotline began in 1985 as a suicide prevention hotline. Now the 24-hour hotline helps with calls about suicide, rape, substance abuse, depression, emotional and physical abuse, financial problem, divorce and many other crisis situations.

The group also operates thestate’s only online crisis chat.

Other offerings include coordinated teams for crisis intervention services, support groups for survivors of suicide andsuicide intervention training for caregivers.