Suicide Prevention And Crisis Services Of Yolo County
Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services of Yolo County is a non-profit organization with the mission of providing crisis prevention and intervention, education and community outreach services to the residents of Yolo County.
Description:
Life presents us with many challenges, some more difficult than others. Relationship problems, financial worries, job stress and other problems can be overwhelming and can often lead to depression. Sometimes people don't know where to turn or they feel embarrassed to ask for help – so instead they never reach out. Our 24-hour crisis lines strive to make help accessible, confidential and available whenever someone needs it.
Our aim is for happier, healthier lives and a decrease in the incidence of suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, family and community violence, and other destructive or desperate behaviors. We believe:
· It helps to talk things out.
· It helps to know that you are not alone.
· It helps to know that there are resources available.
You'd be surprised how just talking about your problem can lift a huge weight off your shoulders. We happen to be very good listeners.
Call us now, any time of day or night. Our services are free and strictly confidential.
24-Hour Crisis Line
Confidential, anonymous telephone counseling and referral information is provided any time of day or night by trained crisis volunteers. Immediate crisis intervention over the phone can decrease the need for more intensive counseling services.
From Davis, call (530) 756-5000
From Woodland, call (530) 666-7778
From West Sacramento, call (916) 372-6565
ASK Teen Crisis Line
The Allied Services for Kids (ASK) teen line began in December 1994 to provide 24-hour availability to teens and families in crisis. Whatever the problem, teens are welcome to call this confidential and anonymous crisis line for support.
From Davis, call (530) 753-0797
From Woodland, call (530) 668-8445
From West Sacramento, call (916) 371-3779
School Safety Tip Line
This 24-hour confidential tip line is where students in Davis and Woodland can report concerns about school safety, including information about possible violence or incidents of harassment. Since the school shooting tragedy at Columbine, such student reports have saved hundreds of lives.
Regarding Davis schools, call (530) 758-SAFE or (530) 758-7233
Regarding Woodland schools, call (530) 668-HELP or (530) 668-4357
"Choose Life" School Education Program
Two hours of classroom presentations are provided to junior high and high school students in Yolo County, emphasizing the warning signs of suicide, creating peer awareness, and stressing the importance of reaching out for help. To schedule a presentation at your school, contact the business office at (530) 756-7542 or e-mail us.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group
Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services of Yolo County announces a Spring session of the “Friends and Family of Suicide Loss” support group for adults. The group will meet for eight consecutive Wednesday evenings beginning TBA at the Suicide Prevention business office in Davis. The effect on friends and family of suicide loss can be overwhelming. Survivors of suicide loss often state that no other loss has been as painful or confusing. Additional feelings of guilt, anger, and sadness can create a complicated grief process. In a group with others who have shared a similar loss, support comes from exploring, sharing, and clarifying feelings. Because suicide grief can have an ongoing impact, individuals are encouraged to consider attending no matter how long ago the suicide occurred.
Group topics will include:
"Understanding Grief - How long does the pain last?"
"Anniversaries, Holidays, Rituals and Memorials"
"Stress and Coping -What helps?"
There is no fee for this group, which is funded by the Ladd Clark Memorial Fund and Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services of Yolo County. Barbara Langer, MFT will facilitate the group. The group size will be limited, so please e-mail us or call us at (530) 756-7542 to register for the group or to discuss whether this group may be helpful for you or a family member.
History:
The History of Suicide Prevention of Yolo County
The idea of a suicide prevention service in Davis began with Reverend Philip Walker of Davis United Methodist Church after a murder-suicide, involving a graduate student and his wife, which left two children to be raised by grandparents. This and several other suicide calls led Reverend Walker to discuss the idea with some of his friends in November of 1965.
In February 1966, he called a meeting with Dr. Herbert Bauer, then the Yolo County Health officer, and Dr. Captane Thomson, psychiatrist and program chief of Yolo County Mental Health Services, another minister interested in social action, an orthodontist, and two leaders of the Methodist congregation.
Since the organization could not afford a center or a professional director, it was considered impractical to try and model the service after the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center. Instead, the founders decided to use a physicians' answering service and route the calls to the volunteer's own home. There was one line to the answering service until about 1972, when another was added.
After a brief but intensive training period led by Dr. Thomson, staffing of the phone lines began in March of 1966. In-service training continued at monthly meetings. Members of the Davis Clergy offered to back up the volunteers. (After the second line was added, these ministers also staffed the alternate line, which was needed when the volunteer was already taking a call.)
During the first 550 days of operation, there were 407 dialogues, with half of the calls coming from Sacramento. Costs of the service, mainly the telephone line and answering service, came to a grand total of $318 per year. Financing was obtained through churches, service groups, and individual donors. When all else failed, volunteers passed the hat among themselves.
The service continued to grow and by 1978, 894 calls were received on the crisis line. As our outreach continued to increase, it became clear that to assure continuity of service it would be necessary to hire a part-time Executive Director. In 1979, county funds were secured for this purpose and the Executive Director was hired. Since then, Suicide Prevention has been incorporated as Suicide Prevention of Yolo County (SPYC). A new line to serve the Woodland community was established in the Fall of 1980, followed by an additional crisis line in West Sacramento.
In 1994, SPYC collaborated with two other non-profit agencies to expand our services to reach high risk teens. Allied Services for Kids (ASK) was formed and in December 1994, the ASK 24-hour crisis line began operating in Yolo County.
Throughout the history of our organization, it has been the volunteers on the crisis line who have been responsible for the success of the service. Many persons have offered thousands of hours of caring and listening and crisis intervention for the citizens of Yolo County.
Contact people:
Office fax number: (530) 756-2931
Address:
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P.O. Box 622
Davis, CA 95617 |
Web Site: http://suicidepreventionyolocounty.org
| Last updated on April 23, 2009 |
