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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.

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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
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Andrea Tolaio, she/her

Program Director

tolaio.a@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 ext.36

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Amber Burke

Assistant Program Director - 988 Lifeline

burke.a@fsa-cc.org

831-246-8753 ext.33

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Celeste Cisneros, she/her/ella

Community Engagement Manager

cisneros.c@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 ext.35

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Ely Suárez they/them/theirs

Training Manager

suarez.e@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 ext.43

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Julie Cory, she/her

Suicide Loss Survivors Program Administrator

cory.j@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 ext.37

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Carmen Gutierrez, she/her

Community Outreach and Education Coordinator

gutierrez.c@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 ext.46

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Laura Walther

Community Outreach and

Education Coordinator

walther.l@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 

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Lolly Castaneda, she/her

Community Outreach and Education Coordinator

castaneda.l@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 ext.45

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Carly Cuevas, she/her

Office Manager

cuevas.c@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 ext.39

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Pamela Carroll, she/her/hers

Office Assistant

carroll.p@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 ext.47

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David Barnet, he/him

Systems Administrator

barnet.d@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 ext.62

Laura DeWett

Assistant Trainer

dewett.l@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 ext.32

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Evelyn Segura-Chavez, she/her

988 Program Manager

chavez.e@fsa-cc.org

831-459-9373 ext.34

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Guadalupe Medina

988 Program Assistant

medina.g@fsa-cc.org

831-246-8153 ext.42 

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Austen Meusel, He/Him 

Data Quality Analyst

meusel.a@fsa-cc.org

831-293-9997 ext.00

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Administrative

831-459-9373 ext.33

Suicide Loss Survivors Support Groups

831-459-9373 ext.5

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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.

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