14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 11-17, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com MC GIVES Losing a loved one to suicide is painful enough, but this particular type of loss and grief can be an isolating experience. The team at Suicide Prevention Service, a program of Family Service Agency of the Central Coast, works to reach loved ones left behind after a loss. The group approaches both suicide prevention and “post-vention” as a shared responsibility. The organization connects with survivors through its Survivor Outreach Team. Members of this team are people who have also endured suicide loss, providing compassionate support from volunteers who “truly understand their grief,” Program Manager Carly Cuevas says. “We help individuals feel less alone and more supported during the most vulnerable time in their lives.” Suicide Prevention Service operates across Monterey County to raise awareness. “Our presence means that people in Monterey County have a local, caring voice who listens without judgment and connects them to hope and safety,” Cuevas says. “Without that, our community would lose a vital safety net that saves lives every day.” The nonprofit offers a full continuum of support, from one-on-one counseling to public education campaigns with schools and parents on topics like mental health first aid (enabling all of us to support each other’s mental health) and 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline. Through partnerships with other local agencies like hospitals and law enforcement, Suicide Prevention Service can respond to people in trouble more nimbly. “Mental health is health, and suicide prevention is a shared responsibility,” Cuevas says. “Every effort ensures that Monterey County residents know that help is available 24/7, confidentially and without judgment.” For Cuevas, this responsibility can appear in profound, everyday ways. After one “Let’s Talk About It!” presentation at a local school, a student volunteer stepped up to help their struggling friend. “[They] remembered what we learned and asked if their friend was OK. [The student] ended up calling 988 and later reported the talk helped their friend feel less alone,” Cuevas says. Every life saved is a success story: “We’re not just preventing suicide,” she says. “We’re promoting life.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Local Life Line Suicide Prevention Service offers a continuum of programs to help save lives and support survivors. By Caitlin Fillmore Andrea Nunez, outreach coordinator at Suicide Prevention Service, on the phone. The nonprofit’s team responds to local calls made to the national 988 crisis hotline. How to Donate Go to www.mcgives.com and click the Donate button. Because of you, thousands of pounds of trash have been removed, new protections against litter and offshore drilling are advancing, and students are discovering what it means to be ocean stewards. When you give through Monterey County Gives!, you’re supporting clean beaches, strong ocean protections, and the next generation of coastal defenders. Join us—protect our coast, protect our future. Save Our Shores protects our coast through advocacy, education, and community action—creating a clean, healthy Monterey Bay for all. From beach cleanups to bold policy victories, your support has made waves for our coast this year. 831.462.5660 345 Lake Ave, Suite A. Santa Cruz www.saveourshores.org Join us for a cleanup on January 24th at Moss Landing State Beach. Register at saveourshores.org/events/ WACMB sponsors Academic World Quest (AWQ) Support our AWQ Scholars to compete for the National AWQ “DC Experience”. montereycountygives.com/wac Donation Deadline 12/31/25 World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area Creating our Leaders of Tomorrow Join WACMB to broaden your world perspective. Learn More: www.wacmb.org Please donate to support World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area • The World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area hosts monthly programs and speaker events focused on global issues. • Empower Future Global Leaders • Create Opporunity For Local Students • Promote Cross-Cultural Understanding • Strengthen Next Generation Diplomacy
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