2018 has been another challenging year for both Calgarians and our agency, due to the economy and the increased demand we’ve seen for our crisis services.
We have been able to respond to the changing needs of our community thanks to the ongoing support of our volunteers, staff, Board, partners, donors, and funders. 2018 was another year of continued growth and development, with an ever-increasing focus on collaboration and partnership. We couldn’t do the work we do without the many individuals and groups who support us in providing crisis services 24/7, 365 days a year.
The 2018 Impact:
- Since June, our agency has received over 10,000 crisis calls per month.
- Demand for crisis contacts has increased by 12% compared to 2017.
- Up to 29% of online ConnecTeen contacts this year have mentioned suicide.
Many of the challenges we have experienced this year will continue in 2019, but we are hopeful about our future as an organization and are preparing to face these challenges. We are currently refreshing our Strategic Plan, which will carry us forward to 2021. Our primary goal is to continue to achieve our mission of providing compassionate, accessible crisis support to individuals in distress; we will continue to focus on developing an environment that promotes human connection and excellence in service delivery. Many things have changed over the years, but the incredible passion and dedication of our volunteers, staff, and Board to our mission is unwavering.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support in 2018. Our staff and volunteers are ready to respond to the needs of our community in 2019. We ask that you continue to support us in 2019, in any way you can.
Warmly,
Jerilyn Dressler
