Press Release: For immediate release
Contact Information
Lea Berhane
Chief Operating Officer
lea.berhane@star-vista.org
September is National Suicide Prevention Month.
September 1, 2024
San Carlos, CA – StarVista a nonprofit organization has been helping people throughout San Mateo County navigate life’s challenges for over 55 years, and the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) are proud to announce StarVista Crisis Center received accreditation for their crisis services program(s). AAS indicates less than 130 agencies in the country have earned their accreditation status as a crisis services provider and ensures individuals who are in crisis, as well as local and state governments funding crisis programs, that StarVista is delivering services according to nationally recognized standards.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) have designated September 8, 2024 as the first annual 988 Day. The theme for 2024 is “No Judgment. Just Help,” and the goal is to raise awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and to emphasize the importance of mental health support.
According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, since 988’s launch in July 2022, counselors answered more than 10 million calls, texts, and chats from people looking for help with suicidal thoughts and mental health and substance use-related crises. Of the 10 million contacts answered in the past two years, 1.7 million were texts – with 988 answering 51% more texts in the past 12 months than the year before.
In California, 988 calls are currently routed to 12 nationally accredited crisis centers who make up 988 California – Crisis Center Consortium. California’s centers received over 350,000 calls in the last year. The growth in the number of help seekers has been notable with a 25% increase in monthly incoming calls over a one year period of August 2023 through July 2024.
Additionally, California Crisis Centers responded to over 40,000 text and chat contacts in the last year. Expansion of text and chat capacity is a priority as the number of help seekers hoping to connect in this way continues to grow. The number of texts coming to California centers each month has doubled over a one year period of August 2023 through July 2024.
“The increase in 988 contacts demonstrates the growing demand for mental health support in our communities and California’s 988 centers are committed to providing high quality crisis counseling, information, and resource connections in our communities.” said Narges Zohoury Dillon, President of 988 California.
24/7 Crisis Hotline 650-579-0350
Call, Text, Chat 988 or https://988lifeline.org/
Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio 1-888-628-9454
Click here for resources for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, trained crisis counselors are here waiting to support you. San Mateo County residents can call the StarVista’s Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Hotline at (650) 579-0350, which offers a free, safe, and confidential place to explore feelings, vent frustrations, and receive support. Trained counselors treat callers with empathy and compassion while providing crisis intervention, risk assessments, safety planning, and referrals when applicable.
StarVista Crisis Center Contact:
Taylor Coutts
Crisis Center Director