Calls to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay now average 12 minutes, that's five minutes longer than the pre-pandemic average.

This year marks 50th anniversary of the Center serving the community.

"What a crisis looked like in 1972 when we started versus today in 2022 are vastly different," said Crisis Center of Tampa Bay president and CEO Clara Reynolds. "And that has been the beauty of the Crisis Center is to be able to pivot, and be flexible as the community’s needs have changed." 

A woman who is now volunteering for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay says the organization ended up saving her life.

A visit to Lisa Pizarro-Yob's house has her sharing her Wellness Recovery Action Plan.

"My whole family has a copy," she said. "It helps them keep me alive."

The 50-year-old, who runs a family foundation and works in commercial real estate, said a broken marriage, lost job and health problems created the perfect storm, and sent her into depression.

"The feeling of hopelessness was just so overwhelming, I just couldn’t do it, and I couldn’t keep being a burden to my family — I barely got out of bed or did anything," said Pizarro-Yob.

She says the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay rescued her in 2014.

"I attempted suicide that July 13th, and my daughter found me, and through the help of 211 they saved my life," she said.

Pizarro-Yob says the support hasn't stopped.

"Ever since, they’ve taken me through a journey, a healing journey," she said. 

Her journey with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay actually started in 1999, when she volunteered with the organization and helped to get phones installed on the Skyway Bridge. Pizarro-Yob said she had no idea she would later benefit from a call herself.

Before that call, she said the Crisis Center helped her family when a relative was raped.

"It was the most encouraging, supportive people that you could ever come across," Pizarro-Yob said of the Center. "Down to all the resources post-rape to help through the healing process."

Grateful for the help, healing and hope the Crisis Center brought her family, Pizarro-Yob wanted to give back. She served on the board and continues to volunteer, and the mother of three says she's found happiness and has a lot to celebrate.

"In just a few days, my daughter graduates from NYU and I’m going to be there," she said. "And in just a few weeks my daughter gets married, (the one) that found me, and I’m gonna be at the wedding. None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for 211."

Anyone needing help can call 211 to receive free confidential intervention and referrals to a crisis center service, and other community resources.

About the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay says its mission is to ensure that no one in the community has to face crisis alone. The organization is the community’s gateway to help, hope, and healing, and is Tampa Bay’s elite provider of crisis and trauma services.  Responding to more than 160,000 requests for help each year, the nonprofit agency offers a range of evidence based programs designed to meet community needs:

Brief Crisis Center of Tampa Bay Timeline:

1972 – Suicide and Crisis Hotline, established by a group of volunteers and concerned citizens, licensed by the State.

1974 – Sexual Abuse Treatment Center incorporated to provide crisis intervention for survivors of sexual assault and community rape prevention programs.

1982 – Psychiatric patient transportation services began.

1996 – Basic Life Support ambulance services began.

1997 – Crisis Center assumes management of Travelers Aid desk at Tampa International Airport.

2001– 211 services launch with calls answered by the Crisis Center.

2006 – Expanded trauma-focused counseling services to include victims of physical abuse or neglect, domestic or community violence or other trauma.

2014 – Florida Veterans Support Line (1-844-MyFLVet) launched to offer peer-to-peer support for veterans.

2022 – TransCare launches Advanced Life Support inter-facility ambulance transports in Hillsborough County.