Crisis and Suicide Intervention
When life seems hopeless or out of control, VIA LINK is here to listen and help.
We are Here for You.
Our 24/7 phone, text and chatlines are a safe space for anyone who is going through a hard time, having thoughts about suicide, or just needs to talk. Crisis Intervention Specialists are ready to listen, provide emotional support and help you develop a safety plan if necessary. Specialists are not here to judge or tell you what you should do. We understand that people are the experts in their own lives.
Suicide Intervention
Part of VIA LINK’s suicide prevention work involves answering the 9–8–8 system for the 225, 504, and 985 area codes. VIA LINK specialists are available 24/7 to provide emotional support, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention. Callers can also receive referrals to local behavioral health agencies/facilities.
People can also use the Chat With Us icons on our website to start talking with a crisis intervention specialist.
Community Trainings
In addition to our phone, text and chatlines, VIA LINK provides the following community trainings about suicide prevention:
- Suicide Education and Response: Educational trainings that can be personalized to fit your agency or group’s needs. Topics include: the current facts and scope of suicide, how to talk to someone who may be having thoughts of suicide, education on identifying potential suicide risk factors, safety planning, and connecting to resources. For more information about this training contact Sherrard Crespo, LCSW, [email protected].
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST): A two day skill building workshop that prepares all types of caregivers to provide interventions to people at risk of suicide. For more information contact Victoria Schwandt, LMSW, [email protected].
VIA LINK also provides trainings for clinicians and community members on the topics of: Crisis Intervention/De-Escalation, Trauma, Grief, Self Care,Child Abuse Prevention, and Adverse ChildhoodExperiences Scale (ACES). For more information or to schedule a training contact Sherrard Crespo, LCSW at [email protected].
Comprehensive Crisis Helpline Training – This training is for people who are interested in volunteering to answer calls on our crisis helpline. It is a 70 hour training designed to fully prepare participants for situations they would encounter on the helpline. The skills learned in this training can easily be applied to other settings. For more information contact Summer Lindzey, LMSW, [email protected].
Real Talk Support Group
Real Talk is a free weekly support group for teens (age 12-17) who are living with thoughts of suicide. Real Talk provides an understanding space for teens living with suicide ideation to talk about what they’re really going through. The group meets every Tuesday on Zoom from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Additional support meetings for parents/guardians are also provided.
Real Talk is facilitated by Sherrard Crespo, LCSW and Esther Saschse, LCSW-BACS. To enroll in group or receive additional information email [email protected].