Crisis Center Rock Star — Tristan Kelley

July 25, 2017

Tristan is a Telecounselor at 2–1–1/Life Line in Rochester, NY. Here’s what his nominator had to say about Tristan:

Tristan has a “willingness to take the extra time to help. The tone and manner of conversation [he has] with the caller is down to earth and friendly.”

Succinct and to the point. And these skills are highly critical when speaking with folks on the crisis line — we have to constantly strive to build rapport and trust. These skills are absolutely necessary when creating a good contact and building a relationship with the caller to support collaborative problem solving. We were so thrilled to hear about Tristan’s use of his skills, so we reached out to hear more from him.


Lifeline: Why did you become involved with suicide prevention and crisis center work?

Tristan: I became involved with suicide prevention and crisis center services in attempts to help those who are in an emotionally vulnerable state. I believe that no matter who they are, at some point every person has been or will be emotionally vulnerable as part of their human nature and can benefit from kindness and compassion.

L: Can you tell us about a positive experience you’ve had with someone while working in crisis center services?

T: A positive experience I’ve had on a call was where an individual was very distraught and after our conversation felt truly heard and validated; they lacked that component in their life and it seemed to really have a positive impact in their mood which was great to be a part of and to hear the change in the caller’s demeanor.

L: Are there changes or improvements you’d like to see regarding suicide prevention or crisis center services?

T: One way that I would like to see crisis center services improve in the future would definitely be the technological capability to more accurately locate and track our callers for purposes of rescue and safety.

L: Anything else?

T: I greatly appreciate the honor of being recognized by you and the organization, I would like to say that I owe much of my effectiveness to my great leadership team and the inspiration, guidance and coaching they constantly provide. Thank you again.


Thank YOU, Tristan for all of the life-saving work you do every day. Keep rockin’ on!


If you’re involved with a crisis center and interested in joining the Lifeline, a network of over 150 crisis centers around the country, please email .

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, reach out. The Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1–800–273-TALK (8255).

Lifeline Crisis Centers

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Messages from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Its Network of Crisis Centers

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