Mental health has always been a cause for concern, but in recent years, more and more people are coming forward about their battles with mental health.
It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences mental illness each year.1 That is a large percentage of the population who struggle, and many may not be getting the help they need. It was found that less than half of these adults actually received treatment in 2018.1 As a behavioral healthcare center in Florida, we find the number of people getting help alarmingly low, but California is doing something about it.
The First Statewide Mental Health Line
In line with World Mental Health Day on October 10th, California launched the first statewide mental health helpline in early October. Due to concerning mental health statistics, the state allocated $10.8 million dollars to the project for the next three years. The number is toll-free so any California resident can call or instant message the line for free and be connected with a peer working at the call center. Currently, it will be available on a daily basis and open for large chunks of the day including on the weekend. The state hopes to make the mental health line available 24/7 before the year is up, especially considering how the holidays affect mental health.
The purpose of this helpline is to offer emotional support for non-emergency situations as well as referrals to other resources for those residents needing more mental health help. When someone calls or messages the number, they will be put in contact with someone working the line who has personal experience with mental illness. State Senator Scott Wiener says, “Too many Californians are struggling with mental health and emotional well-being challenges. Peer-to-peer support is a proven way of helping people stay healthy and get the help they need. The California Peer-Run Warm Line is an important resource for so many people, and I’m thrilled we were able to get it funded,”
The state hopes that this warm line will help make resources for mental health problems more accessible and encourage more people to reach out for help before their problems get worse. Their theme this year is suicide prevention.
Finding Mental Health Help
California’s mental health line is just another example of a proactive approach to mental health problems. Time will tell whether the program is successful and if other states will follow suit. Could Florida be the next state to implement a similar call line? We hope so.
It is important to get help if you need it before your problems get worse. An untreated mental health disorder could lead to a substance abuse problem and by that time, you will need co-occurring disorder help to get your life back on track. Even worse than that, untreated depression could lead to suicide.
If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health disorder or drug problem, call us today at 561-220-3981 to get started with one of our programs. At Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches, we want to help you and your loved ones move forward with your lives.
Sources:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness – Mental Health By The Numbers