“If you see someone without a smile,
give them one of yours.” — Dolly Parton,
legendary country singer and philanthropist
Staff
Elizabeth (Ely) Suárez was most recently the Training Manager at Suicide Prevention Services of the Central Coast, a program of the tri-county Family Service Agency (FSA), established in 1957.
West Mossgrove was a former Assistant Director on FSA’s Suicide and Crisis Line.
The agency provides 24/7 suicide and crisis support to Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties through 988 phone, text, and chat, as well as several local county crisis lines. The Family Service Agency has multiple programs including WomenCARE, Ageless Art, Survivors Healing, and more.
Elizabeth Suarez
Management and Field Work
Ely trained Crisis Responders to answer phone and text/chat interactions for the 988 network and other crisis lines. She trained Supervisors for the line and provides emotional and technical support to those responding to those in crisis. Crises may include abuse, discrimination, migration, depression, and more.
She also instructed Assistant Trainers to deliver effective feedback to trainees who are learning how to become responders. Effective feedback is a tool to help people use their strengths to overcome their challenges, and deescalate an emotional crisis in the short-term.
Ely led and coached trauma support groups for worldwide women. She also taught Spanish for two years to teens, and had opportunities to give them emotional support.
Along with a B.S. degree in Science (related to mental health work in neurological aspects), Ely has extensive training in trauma integration, healing, communication, Complex Mental Health experiences, and self- and co-management of these issues.
Development
Ely contributed to the FSA Manual, writing several chapters including “Getting Comfortable with Discomfort”—and others, regarding populations disproportionally high in suicide rates and intersectionality (e.g., immigrants and refugees, black Americans, and youth).
A native of Mexico, Ely developed the Spanish version of Responder Training, adding cultural considerations in language and focus on specific stressors that Spanish speakers may experience.
Personal Philosophy
“I believe people heal when they are met where they are at the present moment. Sitting in pain and integrating it piece by piece is the foundation of my work. I believe in a space where we can co-regulate [synchronize] our nervous systems through being nonjudgmental, while embracing our pleasures and discomforts. We can navigate crises together.”
West Mossgrove
West is a former assistant director at the Family Service Agency of the Central Coast. Their work included the following:
- De-escalated people in crisis in person, and via phone and text message.
- Provided suicide and other crisis intervention for community members.
- Assisted in training new volunteers and staff.
- Provided guidance and support to hotline responders; communicated with 911.
At an overnight camp for teens, West trained staff in mental health crisis response, provided emotional support to campers and staff, and addressed mental emergencies in concert with the health care staff.
West holds advanced professional certificates in crisis management courses that teach responder skills, such as active listening and crisis intervention.
Personal Philosophy
“I have a deep belief in the inherent value of every person and their right to the support they need to thrive, coupled with a desire to be a helper in my community.”