This presentation explained the development of a suicide prevention centre in a state hospital in 1973. The selection process & training provided for staff & volunteers before they started to provide telephone services were described. The organizational & clinical problems that confronted the program were discussed. Other issues that were examined included the strengths & weaknesses of using volunteers in suicide prevention centres; one-time & repeat callers & the problems they present; self-evaluation; & an analysis of the program’s statistics during the first five years of operation.