Bob Jordan

@BobJordanAPP

The average number of daily calls to NJ Hopeline (1-855-654-6735) is between 60 and 66, but activity generated since the dealth of comedian and actor Robin Williams has pushed the number close to 100 daily

New Jersey sees closes to 700 suicides annually but the suicide rate here is lower than many states. That's partly due to a seasonality factor in suicide rates, said Moustafa Shafey, a psychiatrist and medical director of CentraState Medical Center's Mental Health Department in Freehold Township.

Williams, who was 63, hanged himself with a belt in a bedroom of his San Francisco Bay Area home, authorities said. Williams had been seeking treatment for depression and had dealt with periodic bouts of substance abuse, announcing last month he was returning to a 12-step treatment program.

TRENTON – New Jersey officials say the number of calls to a suicide prevention hotline has spiked since the death of comedian and actor Robin Williams.

The average number of daily calls to NJ Hopeline (1-855-654-6735) is between 60 and 66, but activity generated Wednesday morning alone has the number of calls on track to top 100 for the day.

"It looks like we have been receiving more calls since Robin Williams' death," said Ellen Lovejoy, spokeswoman for the state Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Williams, who was 63, hanged himself with a belt in a bedroom of his San Francisco Bay Area home, authorities said. Williams had been seeking treatment for depression and had dealt with periodic bouts of substance abuse, announcing last month he was returning to a 12-step treatment program.

New Jersey sees closes to 700 suicides annually, but the suicide rate here is lower than many states. That's partly due to a seasonality factor in suicide rates, said Moustafa Shafey, a psychiatrist and medical director of the Mental Health Department at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township.

"New Jersey's four-season weather has less extremes than found in other regions," Shafey said.

Calls to the state hotline began to jump Monday, the day Williams died. There were 76 that day.

Tuesday's call volume climbed to 96.

On Wednesday, as of noon, there were 49.

Bob Jordan: 609-984-4343, bjordan@app.com