Westchester County's 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answered more than 17,000 calls in 2024.
The call center, operated out of St. Vincent's Hospital in Harrison, connects residents with licensed counselors around the clock.
The county highlighted the service in a new podcast episode released Wednesday, Aug. 26, ahead of Suicide Prevention Month beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1, and national 988 Day on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The episode, titled "You Are Not Alone," is the 24th installment of the county's "Westchester, Explained" series and features interviews with local mental health and suicide prevention experts.
County Executive Ken Jenkins said in a September 2025 statement that nearly 18,000 individuals accessed the free, confidential service in 2024. He called the call center "a significant help to thousands of people" and said the county was working with business leaders, educators and nonprofits to expand outreach.
The call center is staffed by social workers, psychiatrists and counselors. It is a partnership between the county's Department of Community Mental Health and St. Vincent's Hospital Westchester, a division of Saint Joseph's Medical Center. Calls are answered locally, with translation services available in more than 150 languages.
The service is free and confidential.
Beyond phone support, St. Vincent's operates a Mobile Crisis Team that deploys mental health professionals directly to homes, schools and other locations when in-person help is needed. The 988 Lifeline also offers specialized support for veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals and people struggling with addiction. Michael Spicer, president and CEO of Saint Joseph's Medical Center, said in a September 2025 statement that the hospital was "committed to expanding resources that bring hope and healing to our community."
The national theme for 988 Day 2026 is "988 Reasons: Your reason is reason enough," emphasizing that callers do not need to be in active crisis to reach out, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Residents of Bronxville, Scarsdale, Eastchester and surrounding communities can call or text 988 at any time, or chat online at 988lifeline.org.
The Crisis Prevention and Response Team at St. Vincent's Hospital can also be reached directly at 914-925-5959.
The podcast episode covers warning signs, misconceptions about suicide and the work of the Westchester County Suicide Prevention Coalition.
The county has not yet published a calendar of specific September events for Bronxville, Scarsdale or Eastchester.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
