Harry Reid: “I rise today to honor the Ruby Jubilee of the Crisis Call Center in Reno, NV. For 40 years, volunteers have provided…”

“I rise today to honor the Ruby Jubilee of the Crisis Call Center in Reno, NV. For 40 years, volunteers have provided intervention, prevention, referral, and education services to the people of Nevada. The center has been a lifeline for countless individuals. While its volunteers know how valuable their efforts are, we will never know how much pain they have prevented or the full extent of the healing they have promoted. The Crisis Call Center was founded in 1966 at the University of Nevada, Reno to combat the high rate of suicide. However, its scope grew over time. Now an independent nonprofit, the Crisis Call Center offers support to all individuals in crisis, including victims of sexual assault and child and elder abuse and neglect. It is still the leading community organization working to end suicide in Reno. Additionally, the Crisis Call Center runs outreach projects for youth and seniors, groups that are at high risk for depression and suicide. I am particularly impressed by The Senior Connection, a specialized hotline to provide advocacy, support, and education to seniors. Uniquely, the services are provided by seniors for seniors. The Crisis Call Center is one of the oldest continuously operating crisis centers in the country. It has provided a model for the many that followed and its innovative approaches ensure that it will be a leader for many years to come.…”