About Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services

Scott Heyman,
Administrative Consultant
Scott Heyman has lived in the Ithaca area since 1973. He and his wife Linda have five grown children and seven grandchildren. Scott has served as the Director of Human Rights for Tompkins County , County Administrator , CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes , and most recently Interim Executive Director of Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service. He currently coordinates the Human Services Coalition’s Workshop Series and provides consultation for several area non-profits.

Charisse Oates, Administrative Coordinator
Charisse Oates grew up in Texas and lived in Altanta, Georgia for several years before coming to Ithaca and her first non-profit position. She's enduring her first full winter in the Finger Lakes. She joined SPCS in the late fall of 2010 with several years of experience in business management working in large and small businesses.

Michael Alvich, Crisisline Coordinator
Michael Alvich is a long time resident of the greater Ithaca area community who has worked professionally in several nonprofit organizations throughout the region. He relocated from the shores of New Jersey to Tompkins County in 1975 where he attended TC3 to obtain his AS degree in Social Sciences. Most recently returning to college to compete a degree in Applied Sciences; working now to obtain his NYS CASAC license to work with individuals with addiction behaviors. His professional experience extends from working with youth in community-based residences and institutional settings. He has experience working with people diagnosed with psychiatric and /or developmental disabilities as well as aging adults suffering from dementia and with adults in addiction recovery. Michael enjoys volunteering for the annual STAP Aids Ride, and Share Our Strength/ Taste of the Nations fundraiser. Michael is also a alumni member with Leadership Tompkins (2001).

Taf Squires, President
Cheryl Mitchell, Vice-President
Lenny Nissenson, Treasurer
Caroline Cox, Secretary
John Bailey
Kristal Ozmun
Stephen Peacock
Marie Sirakos
Paul Soper
John Strong

History and Timeline

History: Following a series of suicides in 1968 Ithacans lobbied for a 24 hourcrisis service. Reverend Jack Lewis took the first call in 1969. The caller was a young man who felt so upset that he had decided the only solution was to kill himself. With the help of our first volunteer counselor, the young man renewed his hope and sense of possibility. 387 calls were received that year; in recent years about 11,000 calls are received annually and nearly 1,000 monthly.

1969	387 calls
1970	407 calls
1973	1192 calls
1974	2150 calls
1975	First after-trauma services following suicides, homicides, and other traumas
1976	2756 calls
1977	3665 calls
1978	American Association of Suicidology first certifies SPCS
1979	Adolescent outreach program developed
1980	5000 calls
1981	First Elegant Party
1982	After Suicide Support Group begins meeting
1983	SPCS offers emergency outreach services with the county mental health clinic
1985	Resources for bartenders and hairdressers developed
1986	28,000 copies of teen suicide prevention pamphlet sold
1988	Crisis intervention materials in 6 languages are prepared
1989	"A Gentle Ear" pamphlet distributed to elderly
1990	"Men Are Talking to Us" distributed, calls from males increase to 40% of total
1991	"You Are Not Alone" pamphlet developed for gay/lesbian youth
1992	10,167 calls; First trainings for college resident staff
1993	Cayuga Community Role Players becomes a project of SPCS
1994	SPCS celebrates its 25th anniversary
1995	Talking With The Caller, a new manual by SPCS and Cornell University, is published
1996	SPCS holds the first annual Suicide Survivors’ Day program
1997	10,442 calls received on the Crisisline SPCS performs Three Long Days, about the suicide of a local high school student
1998	9000 magnets with the Crisisline number are distributed to vulnerable populations after research shows most crises happen in people’s kitchens
1999	1700 individuals receive postvention support after suicides, fires, vehicular deaths, accidents, robberies, traumatic events
2000	SPCS opens the Sidney L. Tamarin Training and Resource Center at 124 E. Court St. (Crisisline remains at confidential address); presents play about school violence in collaboration with the Hangar Theater; First Annual Walk for Violence Prevention; receives Red Cross Award for Exemplary Service
2001	Serves over 2000 community members in the aftermath of September 11th and following local suicides, homicides, robberies, fires and other tragedies; Resource Library on Crisis Issues and Violence Prevention is open to the community; Cayuga Community Role Players receive Martin Luther King Peacemaker Award
2002	3rd Walk for Violence Prevention; Annual Meeting with Drs. Ellen de Lara and James Garbarino.
2003	The 8th annual Suicide Survivors Day features Dempsey Rice; Annual Meeting features Susan Rose Blauner, author of How I Stayed Alive When my Brain was Trying to Kill me; Crisisline Counselors receive Tompkins Trust Company Award for Excellence
2004	Playwright Kenny Berkowitz presents readings from Ashes; Dr. Ricky Greenwald presents “Youth After Trauma: How Traumatic Events Change Who our Children and Teens Become” at the 35th Annual Meeting
2005	SPCS joins the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network, answering calls to 1-800-273-TALK from eleven counties in New York State in the 607 area code. The 10th annual Suicide Survivors' Day focuses on "The Lasting Impact of Suicide"; support groups are organized for "Therapists Who Have Experienced the Suicide of a Client" and for "Evacuees of Hurricane Katrina"; writing and topic workshops are begun; the Annual Meeting on crisis, trauma and the expressive arts features local painters, qulters, craftspeople, dancers, musicians, etc.
2006	The SPCS Crisisline has received over 220,000 calls.
2007	Over 1000 people have served as counselors. Over 10,000 people have received after trauma services. Over 25,000 participated in SPCS trainings.
2008	Two staff members of the agency are certified as trainers in LivingWorks' Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training.
2009	SPCS celebrates its fortieth anniversary. The annual meeting is held in March with a lecture by Dr. Donald Meichenbaum. Suicide Awareness Week is marked with the opening exhibit of The Empty Chairs: Loss After Suicide, featuring 11 altered chairs made by community members. The exhibit is held at the Community School of Music and Arts and later travels to Tompkins Cortland Community College.
2010	The loss of three students at Cornell University reopens a debate about means restrictions on the bridges over Ithaca's steep gorges. SPCS works to support the efforts of Cornell University, calling on a tradition of the agency since its beginning. The agency adds SafeTALK, a suicide awareness workshop, to its educational programs.

Contact Us

Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service

124 E. Court Street Ithaca, NY 14850

24 Hour Crisisline: (607) 272-1616

Other Services: (607) 272-1505

Fax:(607) 272-1839

Contributions and correspondence may be sent to:

SPCS,

124 East Court

Street, Ithaca , NY 14850 .

E-mail: info@ithacacrisis.org

Please note: E-mail is available for scheduling after-trauma & education services, providing volunteer information & addressing business needs. For counseling please call the Crisisline at (607) 272-1616

About SPCS