Press Release: For immediate release
Contact Information
Lea Berhane
Chief Development, Marketing & Technology Officer
lea.berhane@star-vista.org
StarVista Earns Reaccreditation from American Association of Suicidology
May 7, 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.
About Accredited Org:
Founded in 1966, the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center was the first program of StarVista. As one of the first crisis centers in California, the StarVista Crisis Center has been dedicated to crisis intervention and suicide prevention for over half a century, offering free services to youth and adults of San Mateo County. The StarVista Crisis Center is also a proud member of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline network of crisis centers providing hotline, chat, and text services for 988.
StarVista’s Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center (CISPC) is the only 24-hour crisis intervention and prevention hotline in San Mateo County. The Center is both a critical first point of contact for people in need of referrals to social services and a last resort for people on the brink of suicide to reach out for help. Crisis line staff and volunteers serve over 13,000 callers annually from both San Mateo County’s local line and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. When out in the community, the Crisis Center also facilitates mental health and suicide prevention-focused presentations as well as postventions following crisis. This outreach is offered to local schools, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and community-based organizations as another service that broadens the awareness of mental health and fosters resilience and support throughout the county.
“It is our pleasure to have StarVista Crisis Center on our list of accredited crisis programs across the United States,” said AAS President & Chief Executive Officer Leeann Sherman, MP, CAE. “This is a testament to quality of care that StarVista offers to those in need.”
“To be accredited again by the AAS speaks to the team’s high ethical and quality support they provide. I couldn’t be more proud of our staffs growth and ability to adapt to better serve our community.” shares StarVista’s Director of Crisis Services, Martha Cervantes, LMFT. “We are grateful to continue to be recognized for our high quality crisis prevention and intervention services to San Mateo County residents as we’ve been doing for over 55 years.”
About American Association of Suicidology:
The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is the world’s largest and nation’s oldest membership-based suicide prevention organization. Founded in 1968 by Edwin S. Shneidman, PhD, AAS promotes the research of suicide and its prevention, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. The membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center professionals, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of laypersons who have an interest in suicide prevention. Learn more about AAS at www.suicidology.org.
American Association of Suicidology Media Contact:
Chris Cosentino
Chief Marketing Officer
ccosentino@suicidology.org