IPSWICH – The Ipswich Department of Public Health would like to remind Ipswich residents of the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line.
The Town of Ipswich is set to receive more than $784,000 in Opioid Settlement Fund (OSF) payments through Fiscal Year 2039 as a result of the Commonwealth’s settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies for their roles in the ongoing opioid crisis. Through the Massachusetts State-Subdivision Agreement for Statewide Opioid Settlements, the Commonwealth has authorized municipal use of OSF to address prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.
Based on a needs assessment conducted this year by the Ipswich Department of Public Health to determine the best use of their funds, enhanced access to substance use and mental health services was identified as a significant area of need.
The official helpline, the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL), operates at a statewide level, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, and connects individuals and their families, when applicable, to a wide range of substance use services.
The BHHL, available in over 200 different languages from all across the world, is staffed by trained clinicians and certified peer specialists to support and meet the needs of every caller and their loved ones. The service also allows calls on behalf of friends and family members.
Not only can the Help Line connect callers with qualified professionals for mental health assessments, substance use treatment, and referrals, it can also be utilized to find urgent care for mental health and substance use. Callers can be connected to the Behavioral Health Urgent Care, which offers confidential services such as evaluations, individual and group therapy appointments, psychiatric medication consults, medication for addiction treatment, and referrals to treatment.
The Behavioral Health Help Line can be reached at 1-833-773-2445. Call, text, or chat for real-time clinical assessment.
For more information, visit masshelpline.com.
“The Behavioral Health Help Line is an excellent resource for the community that can provide support for a number of concerns related to substance use and mental health,” said Public Health Director Colleen Fermon. “We want our community to know that they are never alone, and that there are resources in place that can connect them with support, resources, and treatment, when needed.”
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