To the editor:

As Headquarters Counseling Center celebrate its 50th year, it seems appropriate to publicly recognize the person most responsible for the development of the agency to where it is now as part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

When Marcia Epstein became director in 1979, Headquarters was going through a transition stage. Thanks to her leadership, Headquarters moved in new directions and achieved a high level of respect within Lawrence’s mental health community. Volunteer training was improved many times over, services were expanded and improved, outreach and coordination with other social services was initiated, funding was stabilized and increased, inter-agency communication was improved and much more. There are many who deserve credit for this, of course, but at the forefront was the tireless, dedicated leadership of Marcia.

Since leaving Headquarters after 34 years as director, she has continued her passion for suicide prevention in a variety of ways, from leading a suicide survivor group to sending out a quarterly email of resources for help with suicide bereavement and reducing suicide risk.

Marcia is one of the people who make me feel proud to live in Lawrence.

Larry Carter,

Lawrence