Late in the evening on Thanksgiving Day, Intervention Specialist Rebecca received a phone call on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline from a distraught young man named Jonathan, who told her he didn't want to live anymore.

Tragically, Jonathan lost both of his parents in an accident. Having never appropriately dealt with the traumatic and sudden loss, he was struggling to form any close relationships and had isolated himself. The holidays are always difficult for Jonathan because they're a time traditionally spent with friends and family.

Jonathan shared that the loneliness this year was becoming overwhelming. Rebecca thanked him for having the courage to share his story with her, and reinforced that he had called the right place for support.

During their conversation, Rebecca helped Jonathan identify a few positive relationships he had in his life. They also made a plan together to make sure Jonathan was able to keep himself safe that night. Rebecca provided Jonathan with information to receive counseling services from the Corbett Trauma Center to help him work through his grief.

By the end of the call, Jonathan's feelings of loneliness had lessened and he felt reassured that he did not have to go through his pain alone. He thanked Rebecca for listening to him and being there when he most needed support.

Thanks to support from community members, the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is able to ensure that we're available to answer calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including Thanksgiving Day when Jonathan needed help getting through his crisis.