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@DidiHirsch.org

www.didihirsch.orgDirector of Communications & Development

Kim Kowsky - kkowsky@didihirsch.org310-751-5426

M E D I A K I T

@DidiHirsch

@Didi_Hirsch

#DidiHirsch#ErasingtheStigma

HistoryDidi Hirsch Mental Health Services has deep roots in the community. Founded in 1942 as the Los Angeles Psychiatric Service, the agency was the first freestanding nonprofit outpatient clinic for adults in L.A. County. Its original mission was to help Los Angeles residents cope with the emotional aftermath of the Great Depression.

The 1970s brought growth and change. Didi Hirsch received federal designation as a community mental health center, and its headquarters moved to a newly constructed building in Culver City. The agency was renamed in honor of Didi Hirsch, a powerful advocate for the mentally ill, trained in social work, who was a board member and generous supporter of the agency’s expansion.

Didi Hirsch has built a record of success in preserving vital services in low-income neighborhoods when local agencies fail. It merged in 1992 with Centinela Family Child Guidance Clinic, which expanded services into Inglewood, and again in 1997 with Family Service of Los Angeles, active in metropolitan and South Los Angeles. In 2011, Didi Hirsch stepped in when an agency in Glendale, home to the nation’s largest Armenian-American community, declared bankruptcy.

LeadershipWidely honored for her commitment to Southern California’s underrepresented ethnic populations, President/CEO Dr. Kita S. Curry has led the agency since 1999. Under her leadership, the agency has expanded significantly: today’s budget is $56+ million and there are 500+ employees and 225 volunteers. Culturally diverse, integrated teams of therapists, nurses, psychiatrists, and vocational and housing specialists attend to the needs of the whole person.

A recovery-oriented leader in community mental health, Didi Hirsch is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides mental health, substance use and suicide prevention services in communities where poverty or stigma limits access to care. From 10 centers and more than 120 schools throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties, Didi Hirsch helped nearly 160,000 children, teens and adults nationwide in 2019. Didi Hirsch operates outpatient centers and three residential facilities, including Via Avanta, one of the first programs in the nation to allow women

www.didihirsch.orgDIDI HIRSCH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

4760 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230 | (310) 390-6612

Toll-Free Suicide Prevention Crisis Line (800) 273-8255

AGENCY PROFILE

Serving 160,000People

StigmaDidi Hirsch has made strides in erasing the stigma, shame, and ignorance that prevent over half of all individuals who suffer from mental illnesses from seeking treatment. A critical aspect of this work is public education through the media. From the Los Angeles Times and La Opinión to The Wall Street Journal and NPR’s Morning Edition, the media relies on Didi Hirsch for its broad expertise.

AccreditationDidi Hirsch’s programs are licensed and accredited. The Suicide Prevention Center has been accredited by the American Association of Suicidology since 1971. Accreditation for the predoctoral psychology internship program and employment services comes from the American Psychological Association and CARF, respectively.

SupportMajor funding comes from the State of California, Los Angeles County, Orange County, private foundations and individual donors.

struggling with mental illness and substance use to live with their children while in treatment. Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center is the nation’s first and a global resource for healing and hope. It provides crisis counseling for people contemplating suicide and for their friends and relatives; training and education for students, teachers, first responders, mental health professionals and others; and therapy and support groups for people who have survived an attempt or are bereaved by a loss.

For more information, go to www.didihirsch.org.

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services transforms lives.

The Tragedy of Mental Illness in the United StatesWith mental illness being so common in the United States and with the large number of people affected, it is a tragedy that mental illness and its treatment have been stigmatized in our society. Stigma hinders mental health by preventing people from seeking treatment and pushing the issue of mental health to the margins so that funding for research and development is limited. It also causes needless pain, suffering and even death in many cases.

Eliminating the StigmaDidi Hirsch Mental Health Services is at the vanguard of a national movement that was part of the 1999 Surgeon General’s report on mental illness in America. Two years earlier, Didi Hirsch launched its annual Erasing the Stigma Awards by honoring former United States Second Lady Tipper Gore and has continued to recognize public figures who speak openly about their experiences with mental health issues, substance use and suicide to erase stigma, raise awareness and educate the community.

The Origins of StigmaIgnorance is at the heart of stigma. One of the best weapons against stigmatization is education. Media publicity about particularly frightening and bizarre crimes of violence can leave the public with the false impression that most people with mental illnesses are dangerous and violent. In fact, people with mental illnesses are far more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violent crimes. Fear of the unknown and aversion to illness also feed stigma.

The Effect of StigmaStigmatization prevents individuals from seeking help. In particular, because of the stigma of mental illness, older adults disproportionately do not seek treatment or discontinue their treatment. Stigmatization affects the amount of resources allocated to research on schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses, causing it to lag behind in funding when compared to other illnesses.

The Costs of StigmatizationBy preventing people from seeking the treatment they need, stigma contributes to decreased productivity, increased utilization of non-psychiatric medical sources, increased morbidity and mortality due to medical causes (e.g., cardiac and cancer illnesses), increased mortality due to suicide, increased rates of substance abuse, and increased utilization of criminal justice resources. Though the human cost of stigma cannot be quantified, it is even greater. Stigma causes those affected by mental illness and their loved ones to needlessly suffer.Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services is committed to erasing stigma and thereby reducing the unnecessary suffering of individuals and families. Not only does effective, accessible treatment reduce the burden of the illness, it restores the lives of individuals and families and strengthens communities.

FACTS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS •More than 46.6 million Americans have a mental disorder in any given year, yet fewer than

half of them receive treatment

•An estimated 17.3 million adults in the nation had at least one major depressive episode

•The average time between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 10 years

•Every day in California, 11 people die by suicide, and hundreds more make attempts

• In Los Angeles County, there are more than 360,000 people with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression

ABOUT STIGMA

www.didihirsch.orgDIDI HIRSCH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

4760 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230 | (310) 390-6612

Toll-Free Suicide Prevention Crisis Line (800) 273-8255

• Outpatient Treatment for Children and Adults

• Family-Focused Treatment

• Integrated Health Care

• Suicide Prevention Services including 24/7 English/Spanish Crisis Line

• Support groups for people who have lost someone to suicide or attempted suicide

• Birth to 5 Program

• Disaster Distress Helpline

• Housing Services

• Home, Community and School-Based Treatment

• Crisis Residential Treatment

• Substance Use Treatment

• Training and Research

• Wellness Centers

• Education and Advocacy

www.didihirsch.orgDIDI HIRSCH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

4760 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230 | (310) 390-6612

With more than 75 years of experience, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services transforms lives by providing quality mental health, substance use and suicide prevention services in communities where stigma or poverty limit access. The agency serves over 150,000 adults and children in 10 sites and nearly 100 schools each year. Its Suicide Prevention Center’s 24/7 English/Spanish Crisis Line receives over 130,000 calls, chats and texts annually.

Clients78% Ethnic Minorities94% At or Below Federal Poverty Line69% Adults31% Children

“I remember what it was like to feel hopeless—before Didi Hirsch helped me get back on my feet. I have found my purpose in life and now I can pay forward their support by helping others.”

– Recovered client, now working toward a counseling degree

QUICK FACTS

SERVICES

RESULTS

Serving over 150,000People

Risk of suicide significantly reduced by end of calls to the crisis line

93% of clients were satisfied with the services they received

74% of crisis residential clients found temporary or permanent housing at discharge

98% of integrated care clients reported that both their physical and mental health needs were met

ABOUT DIDI HIRSCH

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Staff Employees - 550 Volunteers - 200

Budget$52 Million

• Suicide Prevention Center: 24/7 Crisis Line in Spanish and English, Crisis Chat and Text services, support groups for those who have lost loved ones to suicide, or attempted suicide, training & education and more.

• Integrated Health Care: Whole person approach includes physical and mental health care, substance use treatment, employment and housing services.

• Birth to Five: Treating young children who have suffered trauma, abuse, neglect or other issues can prevent problems from surfacing later in life

• Crisis Residential: Short-term treatment for adults having acute mental health issues

• Dual-Diagnosis Mothers: Our program at Via Avanta gives counseling, housing, parenting and employment help to mothers with mental illness and substance use issues.

Trained Counselors Available 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week

24-hour Crisis Line

1-800-273-8255

www.didihirsch.org

WARNING SIGNS:• Threatening suicide• Talking about death or suicide• Hopelessness• Changes in behavior• Giving away possessions• Risky behaviors• Signs of significant depression,

irritability, or agitation• Feelings of failure or shame

WHAT TO DO:• Listen without criticism• Take all threats seriously• Let them know you care• Seek professional help• Remove access to lethal means• Inform family members/friends• Call Didi Hirsch’s 24/7 Suicide

Prevention Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255

Funded by the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health

SUICIDE PREVENTION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

The first in the nation, Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center has helped people contemplating suicide or grieving the loss of a loved one for over 60 years. The Center offers training in the most effective lifesaving interventions, crisis services to save lives, counseling and support groups to support recovery from trauma, and research to further explore the causes and prevention of suicidal behavior. Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center: A National Leader in Suicide Prevention

1958 First suicide prevention center in nation 1963 First 24/7 telephone crisis line in nation 1971 Accredited by the American Association of Suicidology 1981 Pioneered Survivors After Suicide bereavement group model used around world 2005 A founding member of National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 2008 One of first crisis lines in nation to serve Spanish-speaking callers 24/7 2013 One of three centers selected for national Disaster Distress Helpline 2014 Our Manual for Support Groups for Suicide Attempt Survivors first to be listed with

national Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Programs and Resources 2019 Relocated to a permanent home in Century City so services can continue to grow

Suicide Facts • More than 48,000 Americans died by suicide in 2018 and about 1.4 million adults attempted • More Americans die by suicide than by homicide or car accidents • Middle-aged white men and veterans are at a greater risk for suicide • The highest rate of suicide attempts is among teens and young adults under age 25 • Losing a close relative, friend, or colleague increases one’s own risk • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for teens

Community Resource • Operates the official crisis line for five Southern California counties—Orange, Los Angeles, San

Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura • Educates over 7,000 students, parents and teachers how to recognize and respond to warning signs • Trains almost 400 first responders (law enforcement, firefighters, medical professionals) and over

2,000 mental health professionals in suicide prevention • Offers bereavement support groups to adults in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties • Offers new teen bereavement support groups in Los Angeles County

National Reach • A key member of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, we took over 130,000 calls and chats

from around the nation in 2019 • Our Crisis Line is one of three in the nation with 24/7 Spanish-language services and one of three

core centers for the national Disaster Distress Helpline • We trained mental health professionals and peers from 23 states to implement our Survivors of

Suicide Attempts (SOSA) support group program for people who have attempted suicide • Our SOSA manual has been downloaded nearly 1,800 times from every state and 33 countries • Our suicide prevention experts presented at 15 conferences nationwide in 2019 • We collaborate with universities around the nation on research to assess and improve the

effectiveness of services

THE SUICIDE PREVENTION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE CAMPAIGN A LIFELINE TO TOMORROW

SUICIDE PREVENTION CENTER SERVICE SUMMARY 2019

CRISIS LINE SERVICES: Over 130,000 calls/chats/texts in 2019 1. Crisis Lines we operate

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK) – the 911 of suicide prevention • Spanish National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (888) 628-9454 – counselors on site 24/7 • Teen Line (800-TLC-TEEN) -- we cover during 20 hours/day when teens are unavailable • National Disaster Distress Helpline (800) 985-5990– for disaster-related help • Local Suicide Prevention Line (877) 727-4747 • Los Angeles Unified School District’s dedicated crisis helpline (877) 550-2525

2. Languages served • Bilingual English- and Spanish-speaking counselors on site 24/7 • Bilingual Korean-speaking counselors daily during peak hours: 4:30pm to 12:30am • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Text Services 24/7 • Translation services for all other languages 24/7

3. Other crisis services • Suicide Response Team – sends staff to scene of a suicide to provide immediate support &

resources; operates in partnership with LA Mayor’s Crisis Response Team • Follow up calls – for high-risk callers or referrals from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and

UCLA Emergency Departments THERAPY & SUPPORT: Support groups offered in multiple locations in Southern California

1. Individual and family therapy in Los Angeles and Orange counties 2. Adult bereavement support groups in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura Counties 3. Teen bereavement support groups in Los Angeles and Orange counties 4. Support groups for adults who have survived a suicide attempt 5. Therapy for individuals and families affected by a family member’s suicide attempt

TRAINING & EDUCATION: Over 11,500 individuals trained in 2019 1. Specialized training for emergency responders, health and mental health professionals

• FBI, SWAT, police departments, firefighters, hospital staff, therapists 2. Training lay community to recognize and respond to the warning signs of suicide

• Teachers, students, parents, religious leaders, businesses. 3. Training in our Survivors of Suicide Attempts support group curriculum

• To help mental health professionals and peer counselors implement and facilitate the groups • Have trained mental health professionals and peers from 23 states • Received over 1,700 requests from all 50 states and 33 nations

RESEARCH & INNOVATION: 15 suicide prevention presentations at conferences in 2019

1. Developing research-informed interventions and tools related to suicide prevention 2. Advancing the field through conference presentations, training and professional publications. 3. Disseminating successful interventions and tools such as our model support group curriculum

for suicide attempt survivors:

Suicide Prevention Center

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Short-Doyle Contract and United Way agency. Didi Hirsch does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request will provide reasonable

accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities.

Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center is the first and most comprehensive in the nation. A model for suicide prevention worldwide, our Center has been innovating new strategies and programs for people affected by suicide since 1958.

Responding to more than 100,000 calls, chats and texts nationwide each year, our Crisis Line is one of the largest in the country and a key member of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Our support groups for people who have attempted or lost someone to suicide have been replicated around the nation and world. We train thousands of students, teachers, police officers, clergy, businesses and mental health professionals how to recognize and respond to warning signs.

We are dedicated to erasing the stigma of mental illness because lives can be saved when people talk about their suicidal feelings, and when friends and loved ones know how to respond.

Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center in Century City provides healing and hope to people who have thought about, attempted or lost someone to suicide.

Suicide Prevention Center10277 West Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90067

(424) 362-2900www.didihirsch.org

@DidiHirsch

/didihirsch.org

@didi_hirsch

Transforming Livesby providing quality mental health,

substance use and suicide prevention services in communities where stigma or poverty

limits access.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

800-273-8255 (TALK)

24/7 Chat Service: www.didihirsch.org/chat

Funding and support provided by:California Department of Health Care Services

Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Suicide Prevention Center

THERAPY & SUPPORT

Crisis Line 800-273-8255 (TALK)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 English/Spanish crisis services for people in suicidal distress and worried family and friends.

Crisis Chatwww.didihirsch.org/chat

24/7 web chat service provides emotional support and referrals to people in suicidal distress.

Disaster Distress Helpline800-985-5990

24/7 English/Spanish crisis counseling and referrals are available to people in distress because of a natural or human-caused disaster.

CrisisText for deaf and hard-of-hearing(text ‘HEARME’ to 839863)

24/7 CrisisText services are available to people in a crisis who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

Crisis Counselor TrainingVolunteers with or without a clinical background receive intensive training to prepare them to answer calls/chats/texts on our Crisis Line. To apply, visit didihirsch.org/volunteer.

Suicide Prevention PresentationsShort presentations tailored for clinical, adult and adolescent audiences on how to recognize and respond to warning signs. Six-hour clinical presentation covers assessment and intervention and meets BBS requirements for licensed clinicians.

safeTALKThis half-day alertness training prepares people over age 15 to help people with thoughts of suicide by connecting them with life-saving resources.

ASISTApplied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid for healthcare providers and others who want in-depth suicide prevention training.

Training for Mental Health Professionals

This five-day program provides mental health professionals with intensive training in the most effective interventions for clients in a suicidal crisis.

Survivors of Suicide Attempts 2-Day Facilitator Training

Mental health agencies and professionals learn how to facilitate our best-practice treatment model for adults who have survived a suicide attempt.

Individual/Family TherapyOur therapists provide individuals and families affected by suicide with private, short-term therapy.

Adult Bereavement GroupsSurvivors After Suicide support groups provide healing and hope to adults who have lost someone to suicide; groups meet in LA, Ventura and Orange Counties.

Teen Bereavement GroupsAdapted from Survivors After Suicide, these groups provide teens who have lost someone to suicide with a supportive environment for healing and learning new coping skills.

Support for Suicide Attempt Survivors

Adults who have attempted suicide learn new coping skills in Survivors of Suicide Attempts support groups; groups co-facilitated by licensed therapist and a peer.

Suicide Loss DebriefingsGrief processing for families, friends and colleagues who have lost someone to suicide. Debriefings can be scheduled at private homes, schools, businesses, faith-based groups and other settings.

Suicide Response TeamDidi Hirsch’s Suicide Response Team works with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Crisis Response Team to meet family, friends or colleagues at the scene of a suicide to provide immediate support and referrals.

CRISIS SERVICES

Emotional support and referrals; all services confidential and free

Call 424-362-2900 for more information

TRAINING & EDUCATION

Call 424-362-2900 for more information

www.didihirsch.org

Mental Health Services • Serving children, families and adults

• Outpatient and field-based services

• Medication support services

• Case Management

• Birth-to-Five program

• School-based therapy

• Trauma-focused treatment

• Crisis residential treatment

• Recovery/Resilience/Reintegration

Substance Use Disorder Services• Adolescent treatment & prevention

• Mother/child residential treatment

• Homeless outreach

• Assessment, linkage and referrals

Suicide Prevention Services• 24/7 bilingual Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255)

• Crisis chat and text

• Bereavement support and therapy

• Attempt survivor support groups

• Suicide prevention training

• Disaster Distress Helpline

• Community education/outreach

888-807-7250

@DidiHirsch/didihirsch.org @Didi_Hirsch

To get services, call:

Headquarters4760 S. Sepulveda Blvd.Culver City, CA 90230(310) 390-6612

Suicide PreventionCenter10277 West Olympic BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90067(424) 362-2900

Excelsior House1007 Myrtle Ave.Inglewood, CA 90301(310) 412-4191

Glendale Center1540 East Colorado St.Glendale, CA 91205(818) 244-7257

Inglewood Center323 North Prairie Ave.Inglewood, CA 90301(310) 677-7808

Jump Street1233 South La Cienega Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90035(310) 855-0031

Metro Center672 South La Fayette Park Place, Suite 6Los Angeles, CA 90057(213) 381-3626

Orange County Center2000 E. 4th St., Suite 201Santa Ana, CA 92705(714) 547-0885

S. Mark Taper Foundation Center1328 West Manchester Ave.Los Angeles, CA 90044(323) 778-9593

Via AvantaPacoima, CA(818) 897-2609

Didi Hirsch provides quality mental health, substance use and suicide prevention services to over 150,000 children and adults each year.

Pacoima

SantaMonica

Long Beach

Torrance

Culver City

Los Angeles

Inglewood

Santa Ana

Anaheim

Pasadena

Glendale

LOCATIONS