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 CrisisLink News and Information
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Greetings!

Demand for CrisisLink's services has increased dramatically over the last 10 months. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we have been able to respond to this increasing need and help more people than ever before.

 CrisisLink News
 

CrisisLink Announces Transition
Click here for more details.

CrisisLink Executive Director Search Opens
Click here for more details.

Be a Volunteer Hotline Listener. Next Training Class Starts May 30.
Click here for more details.


Stand Up for Mental Health with Comedian David Granirer! Thursday, May 21.
Click here for more details.


CrisisLink Offers Stress-Relief Workshops for Troubled Times. Saturday, June 27
Click here for more details.


Buy a T-shirt, Show Your Support!
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CrisisLink Highlighted in Local & National Media.
View all recent media appearances here.


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 Spotlight on: Mental Health Month
 CrisisLink working hard to promote good mental health

May is Mental Health Month! About 1 in 4 adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Mental Illness does not discriminate - it affects people of every age, race, gender, and income level. For example, suicide rates among the elderly are higher than any other age group. Suicide is also the third leading cause of death for young people, with males four times as likely to die by suicide than women. Just recently, the U.S. Army reported a huge surge in suicides among returning veterans, while media reports highlighted some of America's wealthiest turning to suicide as a last resort in these tough economic times.

CrisisLink is answering double the number of calls from just a year ago, and continuing to offer resources for those struggling with mental illness or contemplating suicide. CrisisLink's Community Education Division offers workshops and seminars designed to help people recognize the risks and warning signs of mental illness, depression, and suicide.

The workshops teach essential skills, such as:
  • Depression: Symptoms, Impact & Treatments
  • Suicide: Risk Assessment, Prevention, Intervention, & Postvention
  • Stress Management
  • Working Through Grief and Loss
  • Critical Incident Response Training
  • Expressive Therapy Workshops
  • Phone Crisis Management
  • Dealing with Angry and Difficult Callers
  • Active Listening & Communication Skills
  • Setting Professional Boundaries
CrisisLink's Community Education Division is also hard at work serving veterans and their families, presenting workshops, training the call center staff of the Army's Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline, and answering suicide calls transferred from that Hotline.

CrisisLink offers workshops for individuals or organizations seeking to enhance communication skills, reduce personal or professional stress, or looking to gain a better understanding of mental health and illness. To learn more about these and other workshops, please contact Mary Azoy, CrisisLink's Director of Community Education & Crisis Response, at [email protected] or 703-516-6771.


Buy a T-Shirt, Show Your Support! 


 CrisisLink: 40 Years of Saving Lives and Preventing Tragedies
 

Volunteers from Winter 2009 Hotline Training Class For 40 years, CrisisLink has been saving lives and preventing tragedies. Learn more about CrisisLink's history and hear testimonials from volunteers, staff, and callers. Click here to view the video.

 


 Tips: How to Help Someone Who is Suicidal
 

What to Ask
  • Have you been so unhappy lately that you're thinking life isn't worth living?
  • Do you sometimes wish you could just go to sleep and not wake up?
  • You seem really miserable - are you feeling suicidal?
  • Have you been thinking about killing yourself?


What To Do
If the answer to any of the questions above is "yes" or "maybe" :
  • Don't be sworn to secrecy. It's better to have an angry friend than a dead one. ("I'm really worried about you. I can't keep a deadly secret.")
  • Contract for safety ("Can you promise to stay safe until after class, etc?")
  • Help the person brainstorm an immediate plan to get help. ("How can we get you the help that you need to stay safe and get better?")
  • Seek responsible adult assistance (with or without the person's agreement).
  • Encourage the person to call CrisisLink by dialing 703-527-4077 or 1-800-273-TALK or call on their behalf. Help is available 24/7/365!


 


 LinkUp & Listen Raises Record Funding for CrisisLink Programs
 Funding comes at a critical time.

On Wednesday, April 22, CrisisLink and members of the community celebrated 40 years of saving lives and preventing tragedies in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. region at the Clarendon Ballroom. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, auction donors, memorial sponsors, supporters and guests, we raised more than $80,000 to support CrisisLink's life saving and empowering programs.

In recognition of National Volunteer Week and those who have contributed to the organization over the last 40 years and, CrisisLink honored the D.C. Metro Employees of the Boeing Company, the Students of Thomas Edison High School, and the Volunteers of CrisisLink.

Thank you to everyone who helped make LinkUp & Listen a success! Your support, as well as the support of our many year-round donors, is instrumental in ensuring CrisisLink is able to continue answering double the number of calls to our crisis & suicide prevention hotlines and continue providing vital services to people facing suicide, trauma, loss, mental health crises, and other health and human services needs.

Stay tuned for details on next year's LinkUp & Listen! Until then, you can learn more about CrisisLink's programs and services through our website or by calling us at 703-527-6603.


Click here to view our 40th Anniversary video produced by CrisisLink volunteers.

 


 Media Corner
 Recent news related to CrisisLink's mission

Find links to these and more news items on CrisisLink's blog.

LA Times: Edwin S. Shneidman dies at 91; pioneer in the field of suicide prevention.

WTOP: Study Paints Picture of Collegiate Health

Washington Post: Newly Returned Soldiers Find Help With Transition


 


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