A proposed piece of legislation could bring a much-needed boost in federal funding to local crisis and suicide call centers across the country.
The legislation co-sponsored by Congressman John Katko (R) seeks to increase a stipend provided to centers like Contact Community Services in East Syracuse by the federal government.
Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Contact‘s Crisis Intervention Director Cheryl Giarrusso said the number of crisis and suicide calls has been steadily increasing.
Contact received 44,000 crisis calls in 2018, a spike from the previous year, which Giarrusso attributes to the deaths of Anthony Bordain and Kate Spade
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