LONG ISLAND CRISIS CENTER INC

The Crisis Center operates multiple hotline services that are accessed by phone and a mobile-friendly online counseling platform, ChatLive LI. These services are a lifeline for young people and adults struggling with suicidal ideation, family crisis, substance use and many other issues. In 2024, 22,419 individuals got help from one of our counselors. An example of LICCs life-saving work: (Call details have been redacted or altered to preserve client confidentiality.)Caller (38-year-old female) started by saying she is going to kill herself as she feels tired and can't do it anymore. Caller stated that she knows how to use guns or might jump off someplace high so she will only have a couple of seconds to think about her life. She is alone, has no children or husband. Caller shared that she is a first-responder, is currently in therapy and taking anti-anxiety medication. Caller lost her mom 23 years ago and recently lost her dad and brother. Caller also shared that that she tried to kill herself many years ago by hanging herself, her father saw her and saved her life. Counselor explored self-care, reminding her that her job is not easy and it can take an emotional toll. Counselor explored what works best to help her feel calm. Counselor reminded caller that grieving is not linear, that it is different for everyone, encouraged her to take all the time she needs to heal and reminded her that its ok to cry. Counselor let the caller know that she could call us 24/7 if she starts to have suicidal thoughts or feels overwhelmed or sad. Caller thanked counselor several times and told her that you took me off a ledge," " you helped me see things differently, you saved my life."Individuals in Crisis Connect with Immediate ServicesIn conjunction with Nassau County staff, LICC counselors answer Nassau County's Behavioral Health Helpline. This line serves as the intake department for the county's Mobile Crisis Unit, a service for Nassau County residents ages 5 and over that are experiencing a psychiatric emergency. In 2024, LICC handled 3,242 calls on the Helpline and completed 528 intakes for the Mobile Crisis Unit. 988 in 2024In July of 2022, LICC was part of the launch of 988 (the three-digit phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). 988 connects callers with highly-trained crisis counselors who can help with a wide variety of presenting concerns, including suicidal ideation, relationships, housing, homicidal ideation and many other potential areas of distress. In 2024, LICCs 988 Crisis Counselors received 11,459 calls from individuals with an answer rate of 91% (calls that were not answered were routed to a back-up center). These numbers reflect a 30% call increase and 2% answer rate increase from 2023. The increase in call volume in 2024 led to changes in programmatic and administrative needs resulting in the addition of a Project Administrator, as well as additional Shift Supervisors to provide 24-hour supervisory support and access. Examples of 988 calls: (Call details have been redacted or altered to preserve client confidentiality.) A high school senior called 988, feeling overwhelmed and depressed due to academic stress and bullying. The caller disclosed that she was not thinking about suicide but was calling to avoid self-harm. The counselor validated the caller and allowed her space to share her feelings. Together, they explored coping skills, motivating factors to avoid self-injury and more adaptive ways to address challenging emotions. By the end of this 20-minute interaction, the caller expressed his feeling calmer and had was able to identify additional coping skills that could be utilized once the call ended. A 25-year-old male contacted the hotline expressed feeling hopeless and helpless because of the end of a relationship. The caller was calling from a train station, where he was considering ending his life. The counselor was able to build a rapport with the caller and he agreed to move away from the train platform while the conversation continued. The caller disclosed a history of emotional difficulties and abuse, as well as challenges faced as a result of his questioning his sexuality. The counselor validated the difficulty of feeling isolated and misunderstood by loved ones and offered several referrals. The counselor was able to help the caller identify connections to life and additional coping skills he could potentially utilize to avoid attempting suicide. The caller eagerly accepted referrals and agreed to immediately drive to a walk-in mental health facility for evaluation. He also agreed to a follow-up call from a 988 counselor. When this call was made a couple of days after the initial call, the caller shared that he was on his way to a therapy appointment and that he was doing much better since his initial call.

Building Healthy Lives through Education delivers workshops for elementary, middle, and high school students and staff, as well as parents and professionals in Nassau and Western Suffolk Counties. These workshops encompass a variety of topics that respond to mental health issues that are affecting young people and presenting challenging behaviors for classroom teachers. The overall goals of the program are to destigmatize mental health and to make participants aware of the resources available to them, including Long Island Crisis Center. In 2024, Building Healthy Lives Through Education strengthened its ties with school districts across Nassau County and made inroads into several new districts. To keep up with increasing demand for workshops, LICC hired an additional part-time Community Educator in September 2024.The Building Healthy Lives Through Education curriculum is continually updated based on feedback received throughout the school year. Total Community Education Attendees: 8,914Suicide Prevention: 2,103Managing Emotions: 1,509Coping with Crisis: 841Cyberbullying: 1,277Lets Talk Mental Health: 2,979Figuring Out Our Feelings: 163Professional Trainings: 42