Through collaborations with youth agency staff and youth groups, the suicide prevention program will reach high risk subpopulations, such as youth aging out of foster care, youth with disabilities, GLBT youth and youth living in high risk communities on Long Island. In addition, the project will use a referral service to connect youth to mental health providers, thus increasing access to services. FREE will launch an anti-stigma marketing campaign, an online support group to help youth in distress, a website, and publications of resources. The project aims to create a safe and supportive environment where youth and young adults watch out for each other and get help if needed.
The website, freespli.org, includes a toll free number to call, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), if you have had thoughts of suicide or are thinking about suicide. Help is available, free of charge, 24/7. The website also includes a Suicide Prevention Resource Center for youth, friends and families and a list of websites to get help for crisis situations.
FREE will partner with several well-respected youth organizations to implement the suicide prevention program. Partners include: Adelante, Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk County, Inc. (EOC), Family Life Center (Wyandanch Youth Center), and Youth Enrichment Services, Inc. (YES). In addition, FREE will work with the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Long Island and OMH to offer staff and youth trainings.
If you are interested in learning about the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) or SAFE TALK suicide prevention training sessions, please call Frank Pomata, at 631-432-0850 or email: fpomata01@familyres.org.
