Suicide Prevention Services

104 Walnut Avenue, #208
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
tel 831.459.9373
hotline 831.458.5300/ 831.688.1818/ 1.877.ONE.LIFE (663.5433)
http://www.familyservicecentralcoast.org/programs/suicide_prev.html

Program Purpose

To provide suicide and crisis intervention, community education and outreach, grief support and referrals to persons at risk of suicide and suicidal behavior in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties.

History

Suicide Prevention Service of the Central Coast began in 1966 with voluteers answering calls from suicidal individuals. As the program grew, high-risk groups such as youth, seniors, and suicide survivors were targeted for educational outreach and supportive services.

Service Description:

24-hour Suicide Crisis Line: This is an anonymous and confidential service that provides distressed people a safe place to express suicidal thoughts and feelings. Volunteers are trained to assess each call for potential lethality and to respond appropriately to ensure the safety of the caller. Free access to suicide crisis line services are provided to the residents of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties through local calling numbers and a toll free number. Through the use of an interpreter service, suicide crisis line services are available in 140 languages.

Education and Outreach: Information and resources are the key to prevention, this service provides presentations and materials to a broad range of high-risk groups. The goal of Life is a Journey is to provide information and increase access to suicide crisis line services for all young people in the Monterey Bay Area. In addition, workshops, seminars, presentations, and in-service training are provided for teachers, counselors, medical personnel, law enforcement, the general public and community based organizations.

Grief Support: This service provides support for individuals and families who have lost a loved one to suicide. Survivors have the opportunity to receive home visits from a team of grief support volunteers and attend grief support groups at various locations throughout the area. Community organizations and local businesses that have experienced a suicide loss may receive support in their grief process.