CHARLESTON, W.Va. — September is being recorded as a report month for calls to West Virginia’s psychological well being and habit helpline, HELP4WV.
Almost 1,200 calls and texts for help got here in final month to 1-844-HELP4WV, 1-844-435-7498.
Brittany Shawver, HELP4WV program director, mentioned they had been projecting continued elevated demand for referral and different providers designed to make remedy extra accessible.
“We expect to obtain extra calls as this yr ends and subsequent yr begins,” Shawver mentioned.
The helpline is answered 24/7.
A chat possibility can be out there at www.Help4WV.com.
HELP4WV is devoted to these searching for remedy for psychological well being or substance use dysfunction.
Referrals might be made for outpatient and inpatient remedy facilities; withdrawal administration; psychological counseling; medication-assisted remedy; peer help and on-line remedy choices or different providers using the rising HELP4WV database.
In some instances, transportation for remedy might be organized.
Shawver mentioned practically half of the employees members answering calls and texts for HELP4WV have private expertise as a result of they’re in restoration themselves and began that journey by reaching out to the helpline.
“Each time a caller calls into us, we really assist them with each step of the way in which. We don’t simply give a cellphone quantity after which allow them to go, we be sure that we are able to get anyone on the opposite line,” Shawver mentioned.
HELP4WV lately marked its fifth anniversary.
The service, which is run by way of First Alternative Companies, launched in September 2015.
Within the time since then, “There’s been numerous packages, new packages, which have taken off so we’re capable of refer there, in order that has been large simply because there are extra choices for people,” Shawver mentioned.
In all, estimates from HELP4WV indicated the referral line had assisted with greater than 50,000 referrals throughout its years in operation.
