David Rodriguez Crisis Intervention Specialist Crisis Lines Team For half of my life, my mental health and mental illness has been at the center of my journey. I am fortunate enough to have a strong support system among family and friends that … [Read more...]
Sarah’s Story
Sarah Fletcher Crisis Intervention Specialist, Crisis Lines Team Lines for Life Life can be beautiful and cruel; at times overwhelming—but nonetheless always changing and providing new opportunities. This fluidity is what makes suicide prevention so … [Read more...]
Angie’s Story
Angie Arledge Crisis Intervention Specialist, Crisis Lines Team Lines for Life At the age of 16, I attended my first funeral. A coworker had taken their own life. I had so many mixed feelings in that moment, but I didn’t know then how much suicide … [Read more...]
Alexis’s Story
Alexis Hilliard Special Projects Coordinator, Crisis Lines Team Lines for Life For some people in my culture, mental illness doesn’t exist. They see it as something you can just snap out of, if you take care of yourself. They say, “You’re not really … [Read more...]
A Message of Hope from Stephen
December 4th, 2002 – I was 19 years old. That was the night that I lost my hope. I couldn’t find it – had no access to it – it was just gone. Even as I wrapped twinkling lights and hung brightly colored ornaments on my tree, I could only see darkness. … [Read more...]
DJ’s Story
David "DJ" Jones Crisis Intervention Specialist, Military Services Team I think that at the time I was 9, my parents’ divorce was an unimaginable event. I didn’t handle it well and by the time I was 16, I was acting out, taking drugs, and drinking. My … [Read more...]
Gabe’s Story
Gabriel Lavaly Outreach Assistant for Underserved Communities, Communications Team I am biracial, and my father was my connection to the black community in Portland. When he died, I lost that connection. I felt very isolated and alone, and I felt this … [Read more...]
Georgette’s Story
Georgette Taluy Events Coordinator, Prevention Team I grew up as an Americanized Haitian, in a country that still shows significant prejudice towards immigrants, black people, and women. That racism and prejudice resulted in several … [Read more...]