Mass211 Vice President and Call2Talk Director Eileen Davis was honored at Fenway Park this spring for being a statewide leader in the fight to prevent suicide.
Eileen received the prestigious 2023 Lifesaver Leadership Award at the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Sip in the Park event on May 5th. The fundraiser was held during Mental Health Awareness Month, shining a spotlight on programs like Call2Talk, which soon celebrates its 10th anniversary as the mental health helpline of Mass211. She was overwhelmed and grateful for the honor.
“Call2Talk has been a labor of love,” Eileen said, “and I am grateful to have been provided the opportunity to build and grow this program and support others experiencing emotional and mental health challenges.”
Family, friends and colleagues from Call2Talk and the United Way of Tri-County proudly watched Eileen accept her award. Her previous accolades include the 2010 Massachusetts Leadership in Suicide Prevention Award and 2022 Women’s Edge Award for Extraordinary Women Advancing Healthcare in Massachusetts. Eileen is Founder and Chair of the MetroWest Regional Coalition for Suicide Prevention, and led Call2Talk to be a finalist in the Excellence in Crisis Center Award from the American Association of Suicidology in 2017.
Call2Talk is open 24/7 with a team of compassionate call-takers who answer through Mass211 as well as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Eileen
encourages anyone who is hurting, feeling anxious or suffering from emotional trauma to reach out for help, even if they're not at the point of self-harm.
Davis created the TeleCheck program and new Postvention Services, including Lossteam MetroWest and the support group Move4Ward for women who have lost a partner to suicide.