Our History
Learn about the origins of Suicide Prevention Service, our mission, and the team who makes this work possible.
Preventing Suicide for 50 Years
For 50 years, Suicide Prevention Service 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.
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.
Our work is based on the foundation and belief that suicide is preventable, and everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide.
Our Origins
Suicide Prevention Service, 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.
Accreditation
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. 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 supported by local and state sources, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Our Team
Celeste Cisneros, Program Director (she/her/ella)
cisneros.c@fsa-cc.org (831) 244-6395
Carly Cuevas, Program Manager (she/her)
cuevas.c@fsa-cc.org (831) 246-8147
Community Outreach and Education Coordinators:
Andrea Nunez (she/her) nunez.a@fsa-cc.org
Moses Reynoso (he/him) reynoso.m@fsa-cc.org
Makena Volzing, Suicide LOSS Survivors Coordinator (she/her)
volzing.m@fsa-cc.org (831) 330-8589
Administrative Line: (831) 459-9737 ext. 33
Suicide LOSS Survivors Support Groups: (831) 459-9373 ext. 5