Social Services

San Mateo Suicide Prevention (SMSP)

We provide 24/7 support for those who are feeling depressed, suicidal, or just want someone to talk to someone about problems challenges they’re facing. Our trusted counselors bring expertise and compassion, responding to every 988 call, text, or chat with care and respect. We also offer educational trainings on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for organizations and schools.

In crisis or need support in San Mateo County? We’re here to listen.
Call or Text 988 for 24/7 Crisis Support.

Our History

Founded in 1966 by suicide prevention pioneer Charlotte Ross, we were the third crisis line established in California and quickly gained an international reputation for excellence and innovation in supporting people through life crises. Recognizing the rising need to protect young people, Charlotte also led the creation of school-based programs that trained educators to identify and respond to suicidal youth laying the groundwork for prevention efforts that continue today.

For more than 50 years, San Mateo Suicide Prevention (SMSP), formerly known as the StarVista Crisis Center, has remained at the forefront of crisis intervention in San Mateo County. Now as SMSP, we carry forward that same purpose through 24/7 crisis line support, educational trainings, statewide advocacy, and post-crisis stabilization services. 

  • Anyone who feels sad, hopeless, or suicidal
  • Family and friends who are concerned about a loved one
  • Anyone interested in mental health treatment and service referrals
  • Anyone who needs some support through a personal crisis
  • 24/7 crisis contact line in partnership with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for San Mateo County
  • Community education and trainings on mental health and suicide prevention
  • Suicide postvention services following a crisis

Our crisis services team is staffed by both program staff and trained crisis hotline volunteers.

The San Mateo Suicide Prevention program team is made up of a large and diverse group of caring individuals, many of which also have lived experience.

The San Mateo Suicide Prevention program is accredited by the American Association of Suicidology and belongs to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline national network of crisis centers and the 988 California Consortium of Crisis Centers.

About the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a nation-wide hotline for those experiencing a mental health crisis. The Lifeline provides 24/7 access to phone, chat, and text support for suicidal ideation, mental health crisis, and/or substance use related issues.

Felton Institute’s San Mateo Suicide Prevention (SMSP) program partners with Lifeline to answer local calls and chats from 988 in San Mateo.

Additional Information:

  • 988 is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
  • 988 Interpretative services are available in over 250 languages.
  • 988 does not replace the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number: 1 (800) 273 8255. Both hotlines will connect the caller to their local crisis center, including SMSP.

Ways to Connect to 988:

  • Call: When a person calls 988, a trained crisis counselor will listen and assess for suicide and safety concerns, provide support, share resources, and link the caller to behavioral health services or 911 if there is immediate danger to self or others. If someone is worried about a loved one who may be experiencing a mental health crisis, they can also call 988.
  • Chat: Chat (English only) is available through the Lifeline’s website at 988lifeline.org/chat. People seeking chat services are provided a pre-chat survey before connecting with a counselor, who identifies the main area of concern. If there is a wait to chat with a crisis counselor, a wait-time message will appear. Once you are connected, a crisis counselor listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources that may be helpful.
  • Text: When someone texts 988, they are responded to by a group of Lifeline crisis centers that answer both chats and texts. Once you are connected, a crisis counselor listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources that may be helpful. Currently, texting is available in English only.

For more information about 988:

Postvention Services After a Crisis

Get Support After a Suicide Loss

Postvention is prevention, and we’re here to help. 

Postvention is an organized immediate response in the aftermath of a suicide to promote healing and mitigate the negative effects of exposure to suicide.

When a person dies by suicide, many others are deeply affected: 

  • One study estimated that 115 people are exposed to each suicide, with 1 in 5 reporting that this experience had a devastating impact or caused a major life disruption.
  • Everyone grieves differently. Some people may experience short-term physical and emotional reactions, while others may have long-term responses.
  • Exposure to suicide can lead to an array of negative outcomes, including mental health issues, social isolation, and an increased risk of suicide.

Suicide Postvention Services are offered by San Mateo Suicide Prevention and are free of charge to the community with the following goals:   

  1. Reduce suicide risk among the impacted community following a suicide death.
  2. Promote healthy grieving and connect those in need with resources.
  3. Transition from suicide postvention to prevention.

We Can Help You or Your Organization

  • Schools : Crisis Counselors assist in a coordinated response, grief support, parent and student education, and staff crisis counseling following a student or administrator death by suicide in partnership with San Mateo County Office of Education.
  • Workplaces : Crisis Counselors assist in navigating best practice messaging, on-site grief support, staff crisis counseling, and connection to longer-term resources for workplaces experiencing a loss by suicide.
  • Individual Follow-Up Support : San Mateo Suicide Prevention offers regularly scheduled follow-ups by phone following a suicide loss to help connect an individual to services and ensure they know they are not alone.

You are not alone. Learn more or request support by emailing us at smsp@felton.org or calling us at 510-924-7667.

Community Education & Trainings

We facilitate mental health and suicide prevention trainings for local school districts, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and community-based organizations. These services aim to raise mental health awareness and foster resilience and support throughout the county.

Topics can be adjusted to be appropriate for any age group. Presentations typically run 1-2 hours but may be tailored to the audience upon request.

These interactive training topics include:

  • Suicide Prevention (School or Community)

    • This presentation covers mental health basics, how to identify suicide risk factors, and how to support someone dealing with suicidal thoughts, as well as introducing community resources.

  • Suicide Assessment for Professionals

    • This clinician-led training is for mental health or other professionals to learn clinical suicide assessment skills for clients and/or students. Participants will learn strategies on how to explore client suicidality confidently, how to assess for suicidality, and how to determine appropriate crisis interventions.

  • Crisis Services Overview

    • This presentation covers all you need to know about crisis intervention resources in San Mateo County, including how to access and utilize our all-ages 24/7 crisis services in San Mateo County. An emphasis will be placed on exploring the least invasive interventions that will most effectively keep those in crisis safe

To schedule a training, use our Training Request Form to send us the parameters.
We will follow-up via email to coordinate confirmation of the presentation or if more information is needed to meet your request.

For general inquires, contact us at smsp@felton.org.

Schedule a Training

Request a mental health or suicide prevention session for your school, organization, or community group.

Open Training Request Form

CONTACT INFORMATION

Office Hours (Mon-Fri): 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Service Area: San Mateo County

24/7 CRISIS LINE
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988

Are you looking for information about our program, trainings, presentations, educational materials, and other resources? If so, please reach out to our supportive staff during standard 9-5 Monday to Friday business hours.

Our Office Contact Information, for general inquiries: (M-F, 9 AM – 5 PM)
Please note that we do not offer crisis support via email. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.

San Mateo Suicide Prevention (SMSP)
Program Email: smsp@felton.org
Office Phone: 510-924-7667

 

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