Headquarters Counseling Center, which operates a 24-hour help line for suicide prevention, drug counseling and other issues, had its own financial call for help answered by a Lawrence-based bank.

Peoples Bank will give the center $10,000 annually for the next three years to expand efforts to prevent teen suicide. The money has allowed Headquarters to hire an assistant director, and the agency is expanding its efforts to raise awareness in junior high schools.

The money also is buying batches of “life support” bracelets, akin to the “livestrong” wristwear driven by cancer-fighting crusader Lance Armstrong. Headquarters also will be featured in the bank’s marketing efforts.

“People don’t get help unless they know it’s OK to ask,” said Marcia Epstein, Headquarters director. “Having a bank come forward like this – it’s an amazing thing to have happen for us.”

Peoples chose Headquarters from among 42 applicants to be the first formal participant in its Peoples Partner Program, designed to focus the bank’s financial and personnel resources on a common goal for a three-year period.

The bank previously financed intramural programs in Lawrence public schools for three years through 2005.

“We wanted to remain youth-centered and youth-focused, but this allows us to make a social change,” said Maley Wilkins, president for Peoples in Lawrence.