Confidential emotional support counseling is now available 24/7 at no cost to Michiganders who call the state’s COVID-19 hotline. The service is part of a federally funded grant program implemented by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration (BHDDA) in partnership with the Michigan State Police. Callers to the COVID-19 hotline will hear a recording that begins by saying to press “8” if they would like to speak with a Michigan Stay Well counselor. The counselors, though not licensed professionals, have received specialized training from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Technical Assistance Center on how to provide emotional support to residents of federally declared disaster areas. Michigan Stay Well counselors are available any time, day or night, by dialing the COVID-19 hotline at 888-535-6136 and pressing 8 when prompted. Language translation is available for non-English speakers. To access a variety of emotional support resources in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, visit Michigan.gov/StayWell.
Other MDHHS Resources
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) wants residents to Stay Home and Stay Well and have created or shared several mental health resources to help! One exciting new crisis resource launched on May 1st is the RESTORE Crisis Text Line:
RESTORE Crisis Text Line – Getting crisis mental health support is now as simple as sending a text to this new service. Michiganders can simply text “RESTORE” to 741741 to have a confidential text conversation with a crisis counselor. Trained counselors will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to texts from Michigan residents who are facing a mental health crisis — everything from anxiety and financial issues to suicide and domestic violence. While the text line is starting during the pandemic, MDHHS intends to continue offering the service in the future. In addition, as part of Michigan’s partnership with Crisis Text Line, people who text RESTORE to 741741 will also receive referrals to local mental health resources and connections. Click here to learn more.
Other new or expanded mental health resources available to Michiganders as a parts of the Stay Home, Stay Well efforts include
- Headspace which provides free, evidence-based guided meditations. It includes at-home workouts that guide people through mindful exercise (a type of meditation in which participants focus on being intensely aware of what they are sensing and feeling in the moment), sleep assistance, and children’s content to help address rising stress and anxiety. The resource is free and available to the public. Go to www.HeadSpace.com/MI.
- The National Suicide Prevention hotline. People considering suicide are urged by MDHHS to contact the or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 800-273-8255.
- The Disaster Distress Helpline for anyone in distress pertaining to the COVID-19 crisis. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-985-5990.
- The statewide “Warmline” for Michiganders living with persistent mental health conditions connects people with certified peer support specialists who have lived experiences of behavioral health issues, trauma or personal crises, and are trained to support and empower the callers. The Warmline operates seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. at 888-PEER-753 (888-733-7753).
- Additional information about all of these resources can be found on the MDHHS Stay Home, Stay Well webpage, www.michigan.gov/StayWell.
————————-
APRIL 28TH – Senator Debbie Stabenow secures $54,452,014 in New Funding for Michigan’s Behavioral Health Clinics Governor Whitmer Makes Statement on Senator Debbie Stabenow’s Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act
Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement after Senator Debbie Stabenow announced that 18 Michigan community mental health organizations have been selected as Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Michigan will receive $54,452,014 in new funding for the clinics. Senator Stabenow’s announcement is a result of the passage of the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act by Senator Stabenow and Senator Roy Blunt.
“Michiganders have faced an unprecedented crisis over the past month, and in these uncertain times having access to mental health resources is crucial,” said Gov. Whitmer. “The work Senator Stabenow has done will ensure more Michiganders can access the behavioral health services they need while navigating this crisis. I’m eager to continue working with Senator Stabenow and everyone else who wants to help make sure Michiganders have access to these resources year round.”
Senator Stabenow is a longtime advocate for Michiganders who need access to behavioral health services. To date, she has secured over $88 million in funding for Michigan community mental health centers.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.