COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line Offers Confidential Help

PFLUGERVILLE, TX — As the effects of the pandemic continue impacting communities, residents experiencing stress, anxiety or emotional changes are reminded Texas Health and Human Services offers a 24/7 COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line to help Texans struggling during the current public health crisis. Free and confidential counseling services are available to provide mental health support by calling 1-833-986-1919. Additional Mental Health & Substance Use Resources may be found HERE, or by accessing the following links.

• 2-1-1(link is external) connects people with the resources they need across Texas. Search easy-to-find information from state and local health and human services programs. You may also find the Local Mental Health Authority in your area by entering “Mental Health Crisis,” along with your Zip code, in the search engine.

• Crisis Text Line(link is external) is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text TX to 741741 from anywhere in the U.S. to text with a trained crisis counselor.

• Outreach, Screening, Assessment, and Referral (OSAR) Centers(link is external) may be the first point of contact for people seeking substance use disorder treatment services. Texans seeking services and information may qualify for services based on need.

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)(link is external) offers a helpful COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide (PDF)(link is external) for individuals with questions or concerns related to COVID-19.

• National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS)(link is external) represents the nation’s agencies in 50 states and the District of Columbia, providing services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. NASDDDS features COVID-19 disaster toolkits and other federal resources (PDF)(link is external).

• The Arc(link is external) is greatly concerned about the threat of COVID-19 to people with disabilities, their families, and the workforce that supports them. The Arc offers a list of resources(link is external) to help people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families and service providers to understand this global pandemic.

• The Administration for Community Living (ACL)(link is external) works to improve the lives of older adults and individuals with disabilities through services, research and education. ACL offers COVID-19 resources(link is external) specifically for individuals with disabilities.

• For plain language information on COVID-19, visit Self Advocacy Info(link is external), which provides a COVID-19 booklet (PDF)(link is external)written by and for people with disabilities.

• Learn how to reduce stress in yourself and others.(link is external)

Other Resources

Texas Health and Human Services offers several programs for families and specific populations who may experience mental health or behavioral health issues.

• Brain injury support groups – Support for survivors of brain injury, their family and friends.

• Community Resource Coordination Groups – Local partners and community members that help people with special needs get benefits and services.

• A Community Support Guide for Alternatives to Inpatient Mental Health Treatment - Helps people better understand mental health care in Texas. This guide provides basic information regarding the services available across the state and the organizations that can help people get connected to these resources.

• Dose of Reality: Prevent Prescription Painkiller Misuse in Texas(link is external) - This website is aimed at prevention through education by providing information on opioids, risk factors, and how to safely store and dispose of unwanted prescription painkillers. It also provides vital information for those seeking help for themselves.

• Family Based Support Programs(link is external) – Helps families maintain a stable and safe home to reduce the risk of future abuse through family counseling, crisis intervention, parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence intervention, and day care.

• Family Violence Program – Shelters, counseling and legal advocacy for people escaping family violence or domestic abuse.

• Local IDD authority transition teams help other LIDDAs around the state better serve people who have complex medical and behavior needs who want to live in community-based settings. Click here to find a LIDDA.

• Mental Health First Aid Training(link is external) – Learn how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders in your community.

• Mental Health Services Search – Find a local mental health authority in your area to get connected to services.

• Mental Health Wellness for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities(link is external) training will educate users about the behavioral health needs of people with IDD.

• Music and Memory – Uses individualized music playlists to help nursing home residents who have Alzheimer's and other memory disorders and reduce the use of antipsychotic medication.

• Navigate Life Texas(link is external) – Support, inspiration, resources and services for families and parents of children with disabilities or special health-care needs.

• Office of Mental Health Coordination – Provides oversight for public mental health policy in Texas and is responsible for coordinating the policy and delivery of mental health services throughout the state.

• Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral Centers – For people seeking substance abuse treatment services. Regardless of ability to pay, Texas residents may qualify for services based on need.

• Prevention and Early Intervention(link is external) – Prevents delinquency, abuse, neglect and exploitation of Texas children. Offers free crisis hotline, counseling, emergency short-term shelter for youth facing family conflict and skill-building classes for families.

• Speak Your Mind Texas(link is external) – Resources for teens, their influencers and their families about the warning signs of mental health and substance use disorders, including downloadable campaign materials.

• Substance Abuse Services Search – Find substance abuse treatment services in your area.

• Texas Behavioral Health Strategic Plan (PDF) – Legislative charges for behavioral health programs, status of current system in Texas — including identified gaps — and long- and short-term goals and strategies.

• Texas System of Care(link is external) – Connects communities to ensure children and youth have access to mental health services.

• Texas Veterans + Family Alliance Grant Program – Helps local communities increase access to mental health treatment and services for veterans and their families.

• Texas Veterans Portal(link is external) – Connects veterans, their families and caregivers to the benefits and services earned through their military service.

• Texas Youth Connection(link is external) – Helps current and former foster youth transition to a successful adulthood.

• Texas Youth Hotline: Life Can Hurt, We Can Help.(link is external) – Hotline (800-989-6884), text service (512-872-5777) and online chat (TexasYouth.org) available 24/7 for youth to discuss problems and find resources and services.

Partners

• After a Suicide: Toolkit for Schools (PDF)(link is external) – A toolkit developed to offer schools general guidelines for action, do's and don'ts, templates and sample materials.

• Ask About Suicide to Save a Life(link is external) – Prevention training on identifying warning signs and appropriate referral strategies.

• Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas(link is external) – Helps to restore the lives of abused children in partnership with local communities and agencies investigating and prosecuting child abuse.

• Drop the Stigma(link is external) – Helps teens start conversations about mental health.

• DSHS Trauma: Creating a Culture of Care(link is external) – Creating a Culture of Care: A Toolkit for Creating a Trauma-informed environment.

• EveryChild(link is external) – Supports family-based options for children with disabilities rather than facility care.

• Help and Hope for Survivors of Suicide Loss(link is external) – Information on grief and coping; telling family and friends; talking to children and youth; financial concerns and more.

• Help For Parents. Hope for Kids.(link is external) – Provides abuse prevention strategies, counseling, mental health resources and more for youth and families.

• Hogg Foundation(link is external) – Blogs and email digests on mental health news.

• Law Enforcement Crisis Intervention in Texas(link is external) – Specially trained police officers who know how to intervene with people who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

• Mental Health America – Texas(link is external) – Helps people recover from mental illness and addictions through innovative education, advocacy and services.

• National Alliance of Mental Illness Texas(link is external) – Improves the lives of people affected by mental illness through education, support, and advocacy.

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network(link is external) – Improves access to care, treatment, and services for traumatized children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events.

• The School-Mental Health Resource Guide(link is external) provides information and resources for people working with school-age youth who have behavioral health needs. This guide is the product of a collaborative group of state agencies, called the Unified Services for All Children.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(link is external)– Federal agency dedicated to reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

• Suicide Prevention and "Postvention" toolkit (PDF)(link is external) – Guide for understanding suicide, assessing community resources, prevention and intervention, and "postvention" strategies for coping with loss.

• Suicide Prevention Resource Center(link is external) – Provides technical assistance, training and materials to for suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide.

• Texas Council of Community Centers(link is external) – Represents 39 community centers statewide that provide services and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, serious mental illness, and substance use disorders.

• Texas Network of Youth Services(link is external) – Works to strengthen, support and protect critical services for Texas youth.

• Texas Parent to Parent(link is external) – Provides peer support through a model developed by parents to empower families to be advocates.

• The GLBT National Help Center(link is external): Provides peer-support, community connections and resource information regarding sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

• The Trevor Project(link is external) – Help, education and resources for LGBTQ teens experiencing a crisis or contemplating suicide.

• Via Hope(link is external) – Uses peer specialists to provide education, training and consultations to people recovering from mental illness, their families and mental health professionals.

This article originally appeared on the North Austin-Pflugerville Patch