History and Description

The Crisis Call Center was created in 1966 at the University of Nevada, Reno in response to the high rates of suicide prevalent in Nevada. One of the longest continuously operating crisis call centers in the country, we are now an independent non-profit organization, but with a close working relationship with the university. The agency plays an integral role in the community as the first point of contact for individuals in crisis – "the first call for help" – providing intervention, education, and referral services. In many ways, the Crisis Call Center is at the heart of the complex web of social and human services in Northern Nevada.

The Center is a 24-hour service providing emergency telephone intervention, support, information and referral to Nevadans throughout the state. This service is provided free of charge for anyone in a crisis situation regardless of the nature of his or her problem, with the intention of offering callers the opportunity to discover learning and growth in their crisis. In addition to the crisis lines the Center also operates the Sexual Assault Support Services program where volunteers provide face to face crisis intervention services for victims immediately following a sexual assault and support, information, and referral services for anyone who has been victimized at any time.

The Crisis Call Center has developed a number of education and information programs for the purpose of preventing crises, particularly suicide, child and elder abuse, and sexual assault: Sexual Assault Support Services, Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting, Elder Abuse and Neglect Reporting, Youth Outreach for Suicide and Sexual Assault Prevention, Survivors of Suicide Loss, and The Senior Connection.

In addition to its crisis and education programs, the Center acts as a "First Call for Help", central information and referral service. People in need can call the crisis line to obtain appropriate referrals. Our comprehensive Community Resource Directory includes social and human services in the Truckee Meadows and much of rural Nevada and is available to agencies and individuals throughout the state. In a cooperative effort with United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierras and United Way of Southern Nevada, this directory is now available via the Internet.