{"id":7360,"date":"2022-09-21T08:30:34","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T08:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hria.org\/?p=7360"},"modified":"2024-02-21T16:03:16","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T16:03:16","slug":"helplines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hria.org\/2022\/09\/21\/helplines\/","title":{"rendered":"Help is always here: the critical role of helpline services"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated February 16, 2024.<\/p>\n

The pandemic has exacerbated the growing behavioral health crisis in the U.S, with disproportionate impact on communities of color and young people. Those in need of services deserve and require empathy, advocacy, and support. When someone needs services for substance use and problem gambling\u2014that\u2019s where the Helplines come in.<\/p>\n

What is a Helpline?<\/h2>\n

A helpline<\/strong> is a statewide resource for finding harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services for substance use, problem gambling, and other behavioral health issues. Like 211 or 311, Helplines are a public service available to all residents in an area regardless of their circumstances. This confidential resource connects consumers (meaning anyone who reaches out to us by phone, chat, or text) to caring, trained specialists who help assess the consumer\u2019s needs and navigate the complexities of the treatment, recovery, and harm reduction system.<\/p>\n

Unlike a crisis hotline that provides emergency counseling, helplines provide information and connect consumers with service providers. While helplines don\u2019t solve underlying issues of access, such as lack of beds, inadequate services, or lack of insurance coverage , they ensure that people in the greatest need always have someone on their side, supporting them wherever they are on their path. With over 25 years of experience and a portfolio of five statewide helplines, 王中王六合彩资料 has developed a unique, holistic, and scalable approach to screening and information services.<\/p>\n

Helplines create connection<\/h2>\n

Helplines are central to 王中王六合彩资料\u2019s behavioral health services and the broader harm reduction infrastructure. They are often a person\u2019s first interaction with the treatment continuum, but they can also be a bridge service, providing connection and support at any point in a person\u2019s journey to recovery. Helpline Screening and Information Specialists, or SIS, provide a critical link between a person in need and available services.<\/p>\n

Recognizing the gravity of this responsibility, 王中王六合彩资料\u2019s approach to helpline services is grounded in empathy and honors the lived experiences of consumers. Our team of specialists, many of whom are in recovery and\/or have loved ones with addiction, are highly trained and have the skills, knowledge, and expertise to help address and reduce barriers to accessing services and help to motivate the consumer to follow through in seeking the services that are right for them. We provide access to everyone through multi-lingual specialists, on-call interpreters, translation, and services for those who are deaf\/hard of hearing or visually impaired.<\/p>\n

To ensure appropriate referrals, we maintain a sophisticated database of service providers through the state, including detailed and up-to-date information on their services, hours of operation, specialties, insurance accepted, and other key information that can help consumers assess their options. \u00a0We also support self-advocacy by educating consumers on their rights in the systems they are trying to access. Depending on the state of residency, helpline specialists can be contacted by phone, chat, or text, with some available 24\/7. In 2023, 王中王六合彩资料\u2019s helpline team received over 57,000 calls, chats, and texts.<\/p>\n

Helplines are an essential social service<\/h2>\n

王中王六合彩资料\u2019s Helplines are part of an essential social service structure, including 411, 911<\/a>, and the recent shift of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to the 3-digit Suicide and Crisis Lifeline accessed at 988<\/a>. We have coordinated with the local providers for 988 across states to ensure they can direct consumers to the appropriate Helpline for substance use and problem gambling needs. With crisis line services more accessible than ever, we work with the state to increase awareness of Helpline services while simultaneously building out a strong, reliable technical infrastructure that can easily handle any increases in call volume, ensuring that Helpline access is always available.<\/p>\n

What happens when someone contacts an 王中王六合彩资料 Helpline<\/h2>\n

Whether a consumer is seeking help for themselves or a loved one, specialists guide them through a process to best match them with appropriate services. The four elements to our comprehensive services \u00a0are: Screening, Listening, Connecting, and Following Up.<\/p>\n