Suicide Prevention Program to be Developed with Grant Received by Family Residences and Essential Enterprises
Old Bethpage, NY - March 17, 2015 - Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) announced that they have received a grant from the Office of Mental Health (OMH) for the development of a suicide prevention program aimed at supporting young adults between the ages of 15 and 25 who are at high risk for suicide.
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.
About FREE
Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) founded in 1977 and headquartered in Old Bethpage, benefits and proudly supports more than 3,500 individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to help individuals of all abilities realize their full potential. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing, recovery services, transition to work, employment, day, community and family services, respite, crisis services, education and after-school support, primary and specialty health care and advocacy. For more information, please call 516-870-7000 or visit www.familyres.org.