WHITE PLAINS, NY (December 11, 2025) — Westchester County is promoting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline through a public service announcement running on Optimum and FiOS cable systems from Thanksgiving through the New Year, as the holiday season can heighten mental health concerns for some residents.
The PSA, based on an actual call to the 988 Lifeline at St. Vincent’s Hospital Call Center, was produced free of charge by A Journey Home Film. It began airing on the Westchester Optimum cable system in October and has aired over 500 times as part of the cable system’s community service allocations, all free of charge.
Using funding from the Opioid Settlement lawsuits, the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health has purchased additional targeted spots. The PSA is anticipated to air another 1700 times throughout the holiday season.
“In 2024, nearly 18,000 people reached out and connected to the 988-call system, run in partnership with St. Vincent’s Hospital,” Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said. “During the holidays, it is so important to remind people about the 988 call system, and the positive results we have seen from those who have reached out. I thank ‘A Journey Home Film’ for their creative work to develop a PSA that makes an emotional impact on individuals, as well as special thanks to Optimum Media for their support of the project. This powerful 30 seconds can save lives, and if it helps one person, it has made an impact.”
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers immediate crisis intervention, emotional support and information about local resources. It is a free, local and confidential service operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In Westchester County, callers are connected to trained professionals who provide confidential support. The lifeline is open to everyone facing a crisis regardless of age, background or circumstance, including thoughts of suicide, addiction or feeling overwhelmed. It also provides support to LGBTQ+ individuals and veterans by connecting them to professionals trained in those areas.
“I thank the County Executive for his continued commitment to families and individuals that face anxiety, stress, bullying, substance use or thoughts of self-harm,” DCMH Commissioner Michael Orth said. “The stigma of suicide and mental health challenges remains in our society, and anything we can do to provide support and show people a way forward is significant. Westchester has allocated its share of the settlement funds to programs and projects that are making a real impact on the lives of our community members.”
“The 988 Lifeline is exactly that, answering the call for help from more than 17,000 Westchester County residents each year,” DCMH Deputy Commissioner Joseph A. Glazer said. “I applaud our shared commitment to increasing visibility and awareness of the program, and commend the diligent staff at St. Vincent’s 988 Call Center for the work they do and the caring they provide.”
St. Vincent’s Hospital is a division of St. Joseph’s Medical Center.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
Discover more from Talk of the Sound
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
