Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board

In moments of crisis, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Across the nation, support is now as close as dialing three numbers: 988. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects people to help when they need it most. It is an important resource for anyone experiencing mental health or substance use crises, offering immediate support 24/7. Recent updates to this vital service now make it even easier to obtain local assistance when it is most critical. What is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline? 988 is a national service introduced to make accessing mental health crisis support easier and faster. Replacing longer and more difficult-to-remember phone numbers, 988 provide immediate, free and confidential support to anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide, emotional distress or a mental health-related crisis. Individuals are encouraged to call for themselves or others they may be worried about.  The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be accessed by phone, text, or chat. The goal of 988 is simple: to connect people in need with trained crisis counselors who can offer compassionate, real-time support.  What Happens When You Call 988? When you dial 988, there will first be a greeting message and choices of who to connect with. 988 is for everyone, but there are specially trained counselors for veterans, Spanish speakers and LGBTQI+ youth. Calls are routed to one of the national networks or a local 988 Lifeline network crisis center based on your selection. A trained crisis counselor answers the phone, listens, works to understand your problem, provides support, and shares resources, if needed. Counselors are available in English and Spanish, and there is translation for callers in more than 240 additional languages. While 988 offers immediate assistance, it can also serve as a gateway to ongoing support by connecting you with services like therapy, substance use treatment and peer support.  The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be accessed by phone, text, or chat. The goal of 988 is simple: to connect people in need with trained crisis counselors who can offer compassionate, real-time support. 988 is a confidential service. Callers do not have to give their name or any personal information unless they feel comfortable doing so.  Georouting of 988 Calls: Ensuring Localized Help A key development with 988 is the recent and ongoing implementation of “georouting” for calls made from cell phones. This ensures that when you call 988 from your cell phone, you are connected to a crisis center in your local physical area rather than one related to your phone number’s area code. This more localized response can lead to better outcomes, as it allows for a more personalized approach to crisis intervention and follow-up care. Georouting is a major step forward in ensuring that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can effectively serve callers through offering timely assistance. In Fairfax County, it means callers will be more likely to connect with crisis counselors who are familiar with the resources and services available in the county, including mobile crisis teams that may be deployed for additional in-person assistance. Help is Always Available The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a vital resource. Whether you're dealing with a mental health crisis, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or struggling with substance use, help is just a phone call, text, or chat away. With the recent implementation of georouting for wireless carriers, Fairfax County residents now have an even better chance of connecting directly with local crisis counselors who understand the unique resources and services available in the area. Whether it’s a referral to the Fairfax-Falls Church CSB, connection to a local therapist, or assistance in managing a crisis, the 988 Lifeline is designed to meet your needs quickly and effectively.  

The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) is offering its annual mini-grants for youth-led projects to reduce stigma among their peers, with support from the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia (SPAN), which is funded by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The mini-grants will fund youth-planned, youth-led projects within Fairfax County, Fairfax City, and Falls Church City, to be completed by May 23, 2025. A total of $6,000 is available, for requests not to exceed $1,000 each. “These mini-grants offer our youth the opportunity to take ownership of the positive change they’d like to see in how we discuss and engage with mental health concerns”, says Chad Christian, WHPP team’s mini grant coordinator. "We need opportunities for our youth to grow in leadership. The youth need to be heard because their voices matter and these grants can support them as they lead the charge to reduce the stigma that is often associated with mental health concerns and aid in suicide prevention”, adds Raymond Paden, Manager of CSB Wellness, Health Promotion & Prevention services. In addition to the goal of reducing the stigma around mental illness, the mini-grants also aim to promote help-seeking behaviors. While mental health concerns and disorders are common, open and honest discussions about them are not a common occurrence. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth ages 10-24. "Far too often, stigma prevents people from getting the care they need and deserve. Stigma, in addition to ongoing stressors, trauma and systemic racism, along with other factors further impacts our physical and mental health,” says Paden. Proposals are due October 18, 2024, and awardees will be announced October 23, 2024. Review the Request for Proposals (also available in Word format) to find out how to apply, and email csbprevention@fairfaxcounty.gov with questions.

The 2023-2024 Fairfax County Youth Survey reveals both progress and ongoing challenges related to youth mental health and substance use among students. Administered to more than 28,000 individuals, the survey provides critical insight into the well-being of the county’s youth. Armed with the data, county, school and community leaders can adjust programs and services, and plan more effectively. Find 5 Things to Know from the 2023-2024 Youth Survey. Among the findings in the survey data is an overall decrease in youth reporting serious mental health struggles. Compared to previous years, fewer students indicated feeling of persistent sadness, hopelessness, or suicidal ideation. Suicidal thoughts and attempts are at the lowest levels reported in the past seven years.

A new Trauma Resilience Program is now offered at Wellness Circle, a crisis stabilization center in Fairfax, Virginia. The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) has operated Wellness Circle, located on Shirley Gate Road, since 2021. This 16-bed regional facility provides an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization while offering comprehensive behavioral health treatment for Northern Virginia residents who are in a crisis. Wellness Circle offers a level of care that is unique to this area. If an individual is having a mental health or substance use crisis but is not in need of hospitalization, they may qualify for services at Wellness Circle. “In addition to our large menu of specialized services, the most valuable thing our staff provides to patients is hope,” said Amy Miller, Program Manager for the Wellness Circle Crisis Stabilization Unit. This was reflected by an individual who received services at Wellness Circle remarked that, “even when I asked them to give up on me, their unrelentless hope made me believe I could actually get better.” This person had struggled with severe mental health symptoms including debilitating depression, hallucinations, and daily suicidal thoughts. After engaging in services at Wellness Circle and the Adult Behavioral Health Outpatient Program at the CSB for over seven years, they are now proudly working a full-time job, paying their own rent, and have purchased their own car — noble accomplishments that were not an option for them before. Wellness Circle provides an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization while offering comprehensive behavioral health treatment for community members in crisis. Clinical staff have crafted daily schedules to include a variety of therapeutic environments and activities for individuals to work toward a state of safety and stability. Trauma Resilience Program When Millerand her staff began to track trends in the behaviors and needs of the individuals they were serving, the demand for a specialized program that addressed trauma was at the top of the priority list. Specifically, they were consistently noting that individuals in crisis with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) often had a history of one or more traumatic events and likely had undiagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Trauma Resilience Program launched at Wellness Circle earlier this year. It provides targeted modules and curriculum that address trauma. This Phase 1 trauma treatment focuses on safety, stabilization and a decrease in symptoms such as nightmares or flashbacks. The structure of the program promotes accessibility by running parallel to regular programming. This means individuals are empowered to choose which groups and/or activities will benefit them most in any given moment. According to Miller, what makes this program beneficial is that people can opt in to address their trauma rather than be forced to face their difficulties prematurely. In cultivating an environment focused on healing through a variety of approaches, Wellness Circle serves the community by empowering individuals to find what works most effectively for themselves. Alternative Therapies According to Miller, not everyone who walks through the doors of Wellness Circle responds to traditional talk therapy. Therefore, clinical staff have crafted daily schedules to include a variety of therapeutic environments and activities for individuals to work toward a state of safety and stability. Some of these unique offerings include: a sensory garden, vegetable garden, Zen Garden, therapy dog, dedicated art room, drum circles, music therapy, and a sensory room. In cultivating an environment focused on healing through a variety of approaches, Wellness Circle serves the community by empowering individuals to find what works most effectively for themselves. Call the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) for access to behavioral health services at 703-383-8500 (TTY 711). CSB Emergency Services are available 24/7 at 703-573-5679 (TTY 711).