Crisis Center seeks volunteers

Suicide is up 24 percent over the past 14 years, and the second leading cause of death among young people, ages 13 to 24. The news is grim. Where is the hope?

The Crisis Center is where hope lives. When someone is in crisis and feeling isolated and alone, there is a place they can reach out to and hear a voice telling them that their life is valuable.

You can be a partner in spreading hope.

Long Island Crisis Center, the 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis intervention hotline, is currently recruiting volunteers to participate in its upcoming Counselor Assistant Training Program. No counseling experience is necessary and the hours are flexible to accommodate the individual needs of volunteers. Completion of the Counselor Assistant training is a prerequisite for the Crisis Center’s Counselor Training, which begins in September.

The free, comprehensive orientation/training program takes place over three three-hour sessions at the Crisis Center’s office in Bellmore. August’s training will be held on three successive Tuesday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 8, 15 and 22.

For more information, visit www.longislandcrisiscenter.org and click on “Volunteer,” then call 516-826-0244 to schedule an interview.