Bellingham Herald Logo

Nonprofit is a lifeline for people in crisis | Bellingham Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletters
    • News Tips
    • Share a Photo
  • Dealsaver

    • All News
    • Local
    • Crime
    • Databases
    • Northwest
    • Nation & World
    • Weird News
    • Local Elections
    • Videos
    • Galleries
    • Traffic Cams
    • Webcam
    • Reader Photos
    • Columnists
    • Rules of the Road
    • All Sports
    • Seahawks
    • Mariners
    • Outdoors
    • Colleges
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • All Business
    • National Business
    • All Entertainment
    • Calendar
    • Restaurants
    • Movie News & Reviews
    • Movie Showtimes
    • Celebrities
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • All Living
    • Celebrations
    • Food & Drink
    • Families
    • Primetime Seniors
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Local Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary

  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Place An Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

Opinion

Nonprofit is a lifeline for people in crisis

By KiKi Keizer

    ORDER REPRINT →

November 29, 2014 12:00 AM

After reading recent reports of two deaths in our community at the I-5 bridge, I was moved to write a short piece, reminding readers about a homegrown resource for people navigating unfamiliar emotional territory.

The Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties is a non-profit organization whose mission is to respond to telephone calls from persons experiencing emotional turmoil, mental health concerns, and, sometimes, financial difficulties. For more than forty years, the Crisis Clinic has provided round-the-clock crisis intervention in our area. The crisis line is (360) 586-2800.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should start by saying that I became involved with the Crisis Clinic more than a year ago, first going through mandatory training for volunteers staffing the telephone lines. Later, I joined the organization’s board of directors. In that sense, I became one of a long line of volunteers who have devoted their energies to this unique community resource.

Why do we do it?

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Bellingham Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

The short answer is that we believe that crisis intervention makes a difference to individuals and to our community as a whole.

We believe that encouraging people to talk about their personal struggles, and listening to what they have to say, can help them to work through their emotional pain. This approach is different than simply making referrals to other social service agencies, although we do that, too. Talking about difficult subjects can provide relief in a safe setting, which may lead to paths forward.

Problems don't always arise from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. That's why the Crisis Clinic offers 24-hour crisis intervention.

Disaster can strike anyone, rich or poor, young or old, whether they appear to be successful on the surface or not. That’s why the crisis intervention we provide to callers is free.

Anonymity allows people to express themselves openly, without feeling judged. The people who staff the crisis lines listen, without imposing their own values on callers.

Helping callers in crisis makes a positive -- and sometimes crucial -- difference in real people's lives. Problems do not seem insurmountable when a caring person is listening.

The Crisis Clinic relies on volunteers, as well as donations. In order to prepare for answering all manner of calls, volunteers receive intensive training in areas such as mental health, suicide and self-harm prevention, mandatory reporting, problem-solving, active listening and empathy, relationship violence, chemical dependency, and recognizing diverse values.

The stakes are high, and volunteers are committed to providing appropriate guidance. For those who are interested, training sessions for new volunteers are held several times a year.

In a very real sense, the Crisis Clinic provides services to people who don’t know where else to turn. Calling (360) 586-2800 can be a lifeline.

That is why we are here, listening.

  Comments  

Videos

Opinion: Trump vs. the experts on Iraq, North Korea

Coal miner to Trump: “Coal mining isn’t coming back”

View More Video

Trending Stories

Whatcom County Corrections deputy fired for relationship with inmate

February 22, 2019 09:34 AM

Grieving parents say Washington’s wrongful-death law is unfair. They want changes

February 22, 2019 04:29 PM

Fire officials investigating dumpster fire in Bellingham alley

February 21, 2019 12:59 PM

What does your toilet paper choice mean for Mother Earth?

February 22, 2019 11:40 AM

Here’s where the cat cafe will open, plus trampoline park to open and free chowder

February 23, 2019 05:00 AM

things to do

Read Next

How President Trump helps divide Democrats by fanning the flames of socialism

Opinion

How President Trump helps divide Democrats by fanning the flames of socialism

By Andrew Malcolm

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 20, 2019 03:00 AM

The socialism Ocasio-Cortez advocates is packaged far differently than the traditional heavy-handed, failed version that Trump describes with government controlling production and distribution.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Bellingham Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE OPINION

Knight Foundation’s investment in media seeks to preserve an essential element of democracy: an informed citizenry

Opinion

Knight Foundation’s investment in media seeks to preserve an essential element of democracy: an informed citizenry

February 19, 2019 11:35 AM
Trump’s foreign policy is pushing allies into China and Russia’s waiting arms

Opinion

Trump’s foreign policy is pushing allies into China and Russia’s waiting arms

February 14, 2019 03:26 PM
Parkland massacre riveted us in anguish, yet we still don’t act

Opinion

Parkland massacre riveted us in anguish, yet we still don’t act

February 14, 2019 02:07 PM
President Trump’s not-so-carefully considered decisions have consequences

Opinion

President Trump’s not-so-carefully considered decisions have consequences

February 12, 2019 03:00 AM
Quest for the Fountain of Youth remains a continually updated story

Opinion

Quest for the Fountain of Youth remains a continually updated story

February 07, 2019 03:04 PM
Trump is putting the U.S. on a refreshing new foreign policy path

Opinion

Trump is putting the U.S. on a refreshing new foreign policy path

February 05, 2019 03:00 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Bellingham Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Subscriber Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Place an Obituary
  • Place a Celebration
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story