President’s Message for January 2023
As we enter this fresh new year, we have multiple opportunities to learn and share.
Our affiliate’s Annual Meeting is set for Monday, January 23rd from 7:00 to 7:20 pm via Zoom. That should be just enough time to vote for our new board, review our priorities, and brainstorm about articles for our much-loved newsletter, “The Bridge.” Please join us by registering for the meeting and take the opportunity to share your journalistic wisdom!
Right after that meeting, at 7:30 that same night, we welcome presenters from Advocates to outline the new state-wide approach to urgent & crisis care at the new Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs). Among other services, they will operate as a 24/7 alternative to emergency department visits. That is big news for all of us in the mental health support community! Learn about the details common to all CBHC locations by registering for the webinar. Location information for the CBHCs nearest to our affiliate communities is available in the button below.
Another service teeing up in this new year is the MA Department of Mental Health Behavioral Health Help Line available 24/7 for call or text at (833) 773-2445 and online at masshelpline.com. The Help Line will serve as a “front door” by acting as a single point of contact for residents to receive support, clinical assessment, and connection to mental health and substance use evaluation and treatment, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. The line will offer clinical triage and service navigation to help individuals and families access the range of behavioral health treatment, including outpatient, urgent, and crisis intervention. The program will be accessible in more than 200 languages.
DMH Commissioner Brooke Doyle was quoted in Healthcare News, “The Behavioral Health Help Line will offer significantly more than traditional information and referral lines. This Help Line team will be staffed by trained behavioral-health responders who will take the time to assess the needs of the people seeking help, will assist with navigation of the system, and will also remain in contact with the caller to ensure that they have successfully connected with a provider. The ability to offer appropriate treatment to every resident, whenever and wherever they need it, has always been our mission.”
The Board of NAMI Central Middlesex hopes someone reading this has just a bit of time to share. We have a simple, rather old-school, volunteer role available to support our membership efforts. Each month we reach out via email and print & mail about 15 letters to those whose memberships are up for renewal. We also send Welcome Packets to new members. It’s a quick task handled during one week of the month. Can you help us fulfill this small yet important role? Contact us soon, please.
I hope to be able to personally wish you a “Happy New Year” during one of our January events. If you contact the DMH Behavioral Health Help Line, let us know how things go. It is so important that we and DMH know how the new help line is working. And also consider the membership opportunity described above—not difficult, but very helpful!