SAN ANGELO, Texas — Dusty McCoy, LPC-S, West Texas Counseling & Guidance CEO has been named as a recipient of the Roger J. Tierney Service Award through the American Association of Suicidology.
McCoy is being honored for the impact he’s had through WTCG based on his stewardship and dedication to making a difference in the suicide crisis faced in West Texas, the organization said in a release.
In 2018, under McCoy’s guidance, WTCG developed its Zero Suicide Program aimed to eliminate attempts and deaths by suicide through the increase of suicide screening, providing evidence-based practices, the implementation of the Zero Suicide model in primary and behavioral care agencies and in community education. Reducing suicide deaths and attempts is the Zero Suicide program’s goal and requires action at the prevention, intervention and postvention stages.
More than 40 counselors are available on rotation to provide crisis appointments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Face-to-face and tele-health crisis appointments also are available. Program staff also schedule, track and follow up with each crisis client, ensuring continuity of care as they transfer to a long-term WTCG counselor for continued therapy.
To date, 997 unique clients have received crisis intervention services – an increase of 77% since the program’s inception.
The Roger J. Tierney Service Award recognizes time and effort given to advance the association’s principles, growth and development and/or for applied contributions to the fields of suicidology and crisis intervention. It recognizes broadly-defined service contributions to be distinguished from academic or research endeavors.
