This is a community announcement from the Crisisline. It was not written by The Ithaca Voice. To submit a community announcement, email tips@ithacavoice.com.

ITHACA, N.Y. — Local dancers, mental health advocates and community members are invited to raise funds for the Crisisline in time to celebrate during the 6th Annual Dancing for Life on April 14th, 2018.

The Crisisline of Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service is a vital community service providing free and confidential crisis counseling for ten counties in the Southern Tier region of New York.  To keep the Crisisline running, the Southern Tier is asked to help. Fundraisers can register and donations can be made now at www.IthacaCrisis.org.

To celebrate the campaign, everyone is invited to move, shake and bop at the dance party on April 14th, 2018 at Hotel Ithaca, 222 South Cayuga Street in downtown Ithaca. The evening will include social dancing with The Pelotones, dance performances, a silent auction, and mingling over refreshments.

The Crisisline serves anyone struggling with difficult life situations, mental health, or suicide. Callers receive empathetic listening and collaborative problem solving from highly trained peers when they call 800-273-TALK (8255) at any time.

The Crisisline is a critical part of local suicide prevention efforts.

“Suicide is not something that will disappear on its own,” says SPCS Executive Director Lee-Ellen Marvin, “It is now the tenth leading cause of death in the United States.”

According to the CDC suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people age 15-24.  As a member of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Crisisline answers calls from the counties of Yates, Schuyler, Tompkins, Cortland, Chenango, Steuben, Chemung, Tioga, Broome, and Delaware.

Dancing for a Cause is proudly sponsored by Tompkins Trust Company, Miller Mayer Attorneys at Law, and Cornell Community Relations.

Register, donation, or learn more about Dancing for Life and the Crisisline, go to www.ithacacrisis.org, call 607-272-1505, or send an email to info@ithacacrisis.org.

Featured photo: Rik Daniels and Nicole Agaronnik, dancers and fundraisers, will return to Dancing for Life with a stellar performance on April 14th, 2018 at Hotel Ithaca. All fundraising efforts will go directly to the Crisisline of Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services. To learn more visit ithacacrisis.org to sign up to be a fundraiser, make a donation, or enjoy the celebration. Photo by Dave Burbank

Jolene Almendarez is Managing Editor at The Ithaca Voice. She can be reached at jalmendarez@ithacavoice.com; you can learn more about her at the links in the top right of this box.