StarVista’s Crisis Center provides intervention services for schools, a 24-hour crisis hotline, online teen support and chat room, an alcohol and drug helpline, and a parent support hotline.
The Crisis Center also provides clinical services focusing on short term therapy services during or after a crisis occurs, to any youth (K-12) who lives or goes to school in San Mateo County.
Our professional staff provide lifechanging support and services with passion, dedication, and a deep sense of caring and concern for the welfare of every person we serve.
Who could call the crisis line?
• Anyone who feels sad, hopeless, or suicidal.
• Family and friends who are concerned about a loved one.
• Anyone interested in mental health treatment and service referrals.
• Or anyone who just needs some support through a personal crisis.
Our Suicide Hotline is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week for crisis intervention.
Trained volunteers and staff treat callers with empathy and compassion and provide referrals for community resources and services.
OUR SERVICES
24 Hour Crisis Hotline
For People who are feeling depressed, suicidal – or who just want to talk to someone about problems they’re facing – StarVista’s 24/7 hotline 650-579-0350 offers a safe an anonymous place for people to explore feelings, concerns, vent frustrations, clarify problems and get referrals.
Teen Website and Chat Room
StarVista’s Crisis Center’s website and chat room onyourmind.net provides support to teens by teens. The website provides information on mental health and local community resources 24 hours a day. Youth can ask questions via email, and answers will be posted on the site. Teens can talk to a trained peer counselor through our trained youth volunteers in “real time.” The chatroom is run by youth from San Mateo County and supervised by an adult at all times.
Educational Presentations
Crisis Center staff perform free mental health presentations at schools and in the community throughout San Mateo County each year to both students and adults. These interactive workshops cover topics including mental health, suicide myths and facts, risk factors, warning signs, and how to talk to someone who is suicidal. To schedule a presentation, you can call 650-579-0359 x29.
Training Services
Our crisis hotline volunteers receive a 5-week training. The training topics include crisis de-escalation, suicide risk assessment, LGBTQ+ domestic violence, active listening, grief & loss, alcohol & drugs, and cultural diversity. In addition, volunteers receive 8 hours observing calls and 8 hours taking calls while supervised.
Clinical Services
Schools may request additional assistance with suicidal assessments or crisis intervention by calling the crisis hotline at 650-579-0350. Interventions are available for free of costs to schools in San Mateo County. We also provide short term therapy services during or after a crisis occurs. In addition, we give assistance for assessing immediate suicidal crisis.