Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant) marked a momentous occasion on Feb. 8, unveiling its brand-new, state-of-the-art national headquarters at 80 Pine Street in Lower Manhattan with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Kimberly Williams, president and CEO of Vibrant, Jennifer Ashley, chair of the Board of Directors at Vibrant, Vibrant board members Florida Starks and Grant Brenner, and NYPD Lieutenant Michael Butler had the honor of cutting the ribbon.
Emcee Carlton Archer, Vibrant’s vice president of Operations, thanked the many guests, which included mental health advocates, community leaders, elected officials, government officials/partners, and partners from various sectors, for joining the milestone celebration.
Kimberly Williams, president and CEO of Vibrant Emotional Health, was thrilled about the new headquarters and expressed how proud Vibrant, which is celebrating 55 years of service this year, was of its progressive programs.
“We have grown from a local community organization to a national leading-edge service-providing powerhouse,” Williams said. “The entire vibrant team, their talent, their dedication, and their compassion is simply unmatched. Each team member of this organization contributes uniquely to the mission of our work.”
Jennifer Ashley was “thrilled” to attend the grand opening.
“This event marks not only our physical expansion but it’s also a testament to the unwavering commitment of our organization to champion mental health in America,” Ashley said.
For over 50 years, Vibrant has been one of the leaders in promoting emotional well-being, raising awareness, and offering support to those struggling with mental health issues. It hosts programs and services utilized by millions nationwide, providing individuals and families with the support and skills they need to thrive.
The new headquarters reinforces Vibrant’s commitment to mental health advocacy and support and caters to the diverse needs of its staff and partners. The new, bright, inviting headquarters fosters employee well-being and spreads over two floors, boasting an innovative, employee-centric design. It features an open-space layout with wellness rooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen and lactation room, recreational areas, and indoor plants. The meeting rooms include high-end technology to enhance the work experience for over 900 on-site and remote staff.
Since 1999, the suicide rate in the US has risen by nearly 30%, and approximately one in five people above the age of 12 have a mental health issue; COVID-19 added to the mental crisis. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the US and the second leading cause of death among young people.
Every year, Vibrant helps nearly 5 million people live healthier and more vibrant lives, offering confidential emotional support through its state-of-the-art contact center and crisis hotline services, which include 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Disaster Distress Helpline, Veterans Crisis Line, and NFL Life Line. The 24/7 hotline services include calls, chats, and texts in English and Spanish. Vibrant also offers ASL interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing and works with interpreting services for other languages.
During a tour of the facility, Mark Savage, Vibrant’s vice president of Crisis Contact Center and Behavioral Health Technologie, shared that 90% of the calls are not suicide based but are from callers who experience loneliness, depression, and anxiety, which were at a heightened level during COVID-19.
Four hundred fifty clinical counselors work in three shifts, helping New Yorkers experiencing a mental health crisis.
“All of the staff here are typically bachelor’s level clinical counselors who have degrees in social work or psychology, psychiatry, and this serves as a very nice springboard for students that are coming right out of school who want to learn and learn how to engage with individuals that are that are in crisis,” Savage explained. “We have also Master’s level staff that are here as well in a supervisory level and above.”
The goal is to get callers out of imminent risk and refer them to longer-term care.
“That’s one of the areas where we are continually trying to advise staff to understand that you’re triaging to get them out of imminent risk and then move them on to that next level of care,” Savage said. “We have mobile crisis teams that can be deployed to individuals. There are follow-up calls for those that are rated as imminent risk.”
Savage emphasized the need for self-care and the well-being of the counselors if they are on a call where someone might take their life. And the new, brighter space provides ample opportunity for staff to retreat and receive support.
“What we do find is that we need a lot of self-care,” Savage said. “So we’ve created wellness rooms on either side for staff if they need to decompress after potentially having a challenging interaction.”
Elected officials congratulated Vibrant on its new HQ.
New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan called Vibrant Emotional Health’s operation of the 988 lifeline critical during the ongoing mental health crisis.
“Facilitating access to mental health resources and crisis response at your fingertips helps people get the help they need when they need it,” Vasan said in a statement. “We’re proud to partner with Vibrant to support connections to resources because New York City is better when we center mental health.”
State Senator Brian Kavanagh, who represents Lower Manhattan, is “happy” that one of the nation’s leading mental health organizations is in his district.
“We must prioritize ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to high-quality mental wellness services,” Kavanagh said.
Assemblymember Grace Lee of Assembly District 65, whose office issued Vibrant with a congratulatory State Assembly Citation, noted the massive rise in mental health needs across New York since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is critical that we make mental health resources available to all members of our community, especially the most vulnerable,” Lee, who issued a congratulatory State Assembly Citation, said.
Council Member Marte, who also issued a citation on behalf of the City Council, commented, “The Council Member is pleased to welcome Vibrant to its new home in Lower Manhattan and lauds Vibrant’s efforts in providing crucial mental and emotional support services across New York City.”
