SAN FRANCISCO, CA (April 21, 2020) — April 22, 2020, is the day when Felton Institute’s San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP) would have held its annual Laughs for Life Fundraiser, honoring those who are providing essential services in the mental health community and featuring comedic performances from headliners who believe that laughter is among the best medicines.
Due to COVID-19, the highly anticipated gala was canceled and sadly, the high-risk calls to SFSP have increased by 35% as a result of the impact of the current health pandemic. SFSP remains fiercely committed to providing support for those in need during this crisis. That’s why we’ve been hard at work, moving the call room to the cloud so that our team can continue to answer the hotlines safely from their homes.
To sustain critical services, SFSP must expand its reach from home. We can only afford to equip 20 people to answer the phones remotely, while we normally have 100 volunteers in rotation. SFSP remains fiercely committed to providing support for those in need during this crisis. We need more phones and computers that can handle the job, and we are grateful for any and all support during these challenging times.
During these unprecedented times, one way to practice self-care is with laughter. We had hoped to be laughing with you all on April 22 at Laughs for Life, but in the spirit of Laughs for Life, we invite you to please share a joke with us, and let’s enjoy a little levity during this time. Post it on Facebook tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22, 2020, and let’s share some (family-friendly) laughs together.
Whether you share a joke with us or make a gift online, every gesture, big or small helps make a difference! Thank you so much for your continued dedication to helping others.
If you would like an interview with San Francisco Suicide Prevention’s Director of Programs Van Hedwall, please email communications@felton.org or call 415-653-2726.
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About Felton Institute: Founded in 1889, Felton Institute responds to human needs by providing cutting edge, evidence-based mental health and social services that transform lives. Offering more than 50 acclaimed and honored programs that address homelessness, mental health, prenatal, adolescent, adult and senior needs, Felton Institute provides services in San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Marin, and Monterey counties. Felton is named for its social services pioneer and executive director Dr. Katharine “Kitty” Felton who was called the ”conscience of San Francisco” and was committed to ensuring that children and families in crisis have access to social services and resources in order to help them build upon their inherent strengths and develop self-sufficiency. www.felton.org
About San Francisco Suicide Prevention: Founded in 1962, San Francisco Suicide Prevention is the oldest community-based telephone crisis center in the United States. The agency provides emotional support and crisis intervention, answering more than 300 calls a day; has trained over 6,000 youth in the warning signs of suicide and risk-reduction tactics; and helped 200 community members process the loss of loved ones, ensuring that all members of the community are empowered with tools to help each other through moments of crisis. San Francisco Suicide Prevention has several 24-hour crisis hotlines. www.sfsuicide.org
For More Information, contact Felton Communications: communications@felton.org, 415-653-2726 or 415-474-7310 ext. 680