Citation

Russell J. Crisis Interv. 1970; 2(2): 35-40.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1970, Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Night People is a community mental health reach-out program in downtown Buffalo, New York, under the auspices of the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service of Erie County, New York. The Night Counselors who man the program are clergymen of several denominations who have been trained by our agency. The counselors take 6-hour shifts from about 10:00 P.M. to 4:00 A.M., moving around in areas of high night activity, being visibly available for contact and counseling in such places as bars, coffee shops, hotels, transportation centers, and on street corners. The counselors encounter a variety of people, drawn to them by the sight of the clerical collars, whom they engage in conversation, often moving into discussion of problem areas in their lives or of crises they are currently undergoing. The Night Counselors attempt to listen in a sensitive and accepting manner, and to give a therapeutic dimension to the encounters, by helping the person reflect on their problems, by discussing alternatives to situations, by strengthening self concepts, by inserting resource suggestions, and by making referrals for specific problems that may come up.

Language: en