Town, crisis center work to prevent senior suicide

After the suicide and backyard burial of an elderly veteran discovered by police in Bellmore last week, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Anthony Santino announced a partnership between the township and the Long Island Crisis Center to ensure seniors are able to get the mental health support they need.

Santino, along with Linda Leonard, Executive Director of LICC, and Councilman Anthony D’Esposito, announced the creation of the 24-hour crisis hotline at the Bellmore Senior Center on Wednesday morning.

According to one in three people over the age of 65 will face a significant crisis at some point and question the very meaning of their life. Further, Leonard and Santino agreed, during the holidays, the risk of depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder among seniors can increase.

“The holidays can be a tough time and a lonely season for many senior citizens,” said Santino. “Fortunately, the LICC and the town’s active senior citizen centers are helping mature people cope with the holiday blues. Call the LICC and visit one of our senior centers, make new friends and know that we are here to offer support and assistance.”

In addition to the suicide hotline, the partnership between the town and LICC will entail a series of 16 seminars at township senior centers focusing on grief, loneliness and depression during the holiday season.

The hotline will be provided courtesy of a $20,000 grant from the town’s Planning and Economic Development Department, according to Santino.

“All of us at the Crisis Center are thrilled to be partnering with the town … in providing a Senior Connection Helpline. As Nassau County’s only 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline, we will be providing short-term counseling, support and resources so very important people in all our lives — senior citizens,” Leonard said. “Our counselors will let our callers know that they are not alone and that it’s OK to talk about their feelings and problems.”

D’Esposito urged residents to remember the seniors around them during the holidays and the emotions they could be feeling.

“Seniors face an extraordinary amount of stress each day and have thrived through times that would make the smartphone generation quake in their boots,” he said. “Our seniors are an invaluable asset to our community, and we’re looking to lend them the same kind of help that they’ve given to us a thousand times over.”

Seniors experiencing loneliness, depression or suicidal thoughts can call the LICC anytime at 516-679-0000.