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Family Service Agency of the Central Coast
Serving Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties
Providing counseling, suicide prevention, education, training and supportive services to people of all ages and backgrounds since 1957.
Suicide Prevention Services is a program of Family Services Agency of the Central Coast, a private non-profit 501c3 organization serving Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties.
About Us
For 50 years Suicide Prevention Services of the Central Coast has worked together with counties, cities, and communities, as well as our public, private, faith, and educational partners to prevent suicide through compassionate care, public awareness, suicide prevention and awareness training and education and support for suicide survivors.
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Our work is based on the foundation and belief that suicide is preventable and everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide.
Suicide Prevention Services of the Central Coast provides suicide and crisis intervention, community education, outreach, support and referrals to persons at risk of suicide and suicidal behavior and offers Suicide Loss Survivors Grief Support Services throughout Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties.
Suicide Prevention Service of the Central Coast is an accredited member of the national network of more than 200 crisis centers that helps thousands of people overcome crisis situations every day and is supported by local and state sources as well as the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
In June 2022, Suicide Services of the Central Coast was re-accredited by the American Association of Suicidology for another five years.
Crisis Centers across the nation seek accreditation as a validation of high-quality service delivery according to nationally recognized standards, a model of program excellence, and a commitment to systematic, ongoing self-evaluation and improvement of suicide prevention and crisis intervention services.
We are proud and thankful for the hard work and dedication of all of our volunteers and staff in continuing to help people in times of crisis.
Our History
Suicide Prevention Services of the Central Coast,
a program of Family Service Agency of the Central Coast, was formed July 1, 1998 in a merger between Suicide Prevention and Crisis Center of Monterey (founded in 1966) and Suicide Prevention Service of Santa Cruz (founded in 1968).
The program began by addressing the immediate danger of suicidal behavior through providing a suicide crisis line staffed by trained volunteers.
The hotline became a safe and effective service for callers to receive compassionate support, suicide and crisis intervention, and information and referrals.
Through listening to the needs of callers and the community, the Suicide Prevention Services program grew to include educational presentations and training for groups at high risk for suicidal behavior (youth and seniors), and offering grief support services for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.
Life can be hard and we all need help sometimes. There’s someone here to listen and help.
Locations
Suicide Prevention Services
Administrative Office is located at:
104 Walnut Avenue, Suite 200
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Family Service Agency of the Central Coast
945 S. Main St. Suite 103
Salinas, CA 93901
Our Team
West Anderson, they/them/theirs
Associate Program Director - Administrations and Operations
831-459-9373 ext.33
Julie Cory, she/her
Suicide Loss Survivors Program Administrator
831-459-9373 ext.37
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Carmen Gutierrez, she/her
Community Outreach and Education Coordinator
831-459-9373 ext.46
Lolly Castaneda, she/her
Community Outreach and Education Coordinator
831-459-9373 ext.45
Laura DeWett
Assistant Trainer
831-459-9373
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Administrative
831-459-9373 ext.33
Suicide Loss Survivors Support Groups
831-459-9373 ext.5
24-Hour Suicide Crisis Line
Call: 988
Serving Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties for over 50 years
Calls to the Suicide Crisis Line are confidential, but we are required to report to outside agencies and/or get additional help in certain situations, including immediate risk of suicide or homicide and minor, elder, or dependent adult abuse or neglect.
Las llamadas a Suicide Crisis Line son confidenciales, pero estamos obligados a informar a agencias exteriores y de obtener ayuda adicional en ciertas situaciones, incluyendo riesgo inmediato de suicidio u homicidio al igual que abuso o descuido/abandono de algún menor, anciano y/ó un adulto dependiente.