NYC highlights services available for mental illness on World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day took place on Monday, with the goal of reducing the stigma associated with mental illness and increasing awareness of the services that are available.
It is estimated that one in every eight people will battle seriously with issues related to their mental health. Providing assistance to those who need it will simply make the situation more difficult.
Callers who use hotlines such as 211 and 988 are connected to crisis counselors. The assistance that is available on the other end of such lines makes certain that people who are in a crisis are not arbitrarily brought to their local emergency room.
“As far as thoughts of suicide, you know sometimes people do disclose to people they care about around thoughts of suicide,” said Deborah Turner of 211 Lifeline. “And so something we can do here is we can just talk to you about what options they can engage in to support that person that they care about we can also offer to contact that person that they care about and just check in with them and see if they’re OK.”
211 Lifeline is a service that is available around the clock and enables individuals to have private discussions by phone or text. Additionally, the non-profit organization serves as a call-taking service for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
