Charleston, W.Va. – May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and West Virginia is recognizing the importance of mental health and wellbeing, especially in light of rising rates of mental health and substance use issues across the nation. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, West Virginia has been particularly affected, with the second-highest rate of adults reporting anxiety and depression, at 37.9%.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a vital resource for anyone with mental health issues and is available 24/7. For people calling from West Virginia, calls are answered at First Choice Services in Charleston, WV. Although the suicide lifeline has been available since 1995, the number changed to 988 in July 2022. Funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau for Behavioral Health, allowed First Choice Services to hire additional staff, expand its training, and offer more outreach.
A significant change has been an increased emphasis on using chat and text to reach a crisis counselor. According to Rozanna Bracken, Program Director for WV 988, helpline contacts have more than doubled since last year, with nearly 1,500 contacts originating from West Virginia in March, 400 of which were through chat or text. She attributes the increase to greater need and improved accessibility. Bracken added, “In this era of automation, people are so relieved to reach a real person. They expect to wait on hold for minutes or reach a chatbot, but our staff here in Charleston are able to quickly connect with people.”
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), indicators of mental health crisis include:
- Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Pulling away from people and things
• Having low or no energy
• Having unexplained aches and pains, such as constant stomach aches or headaches
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Excessive smoking, drinking, or using drugs, including prescription medications
• Worrying a lot of the time; feeling guilty but not sure why
• Thinking of hurting or killing yourself or someone else
• Having difficulty readjusting to home or work life
If you or someone you know needs help or support, call, text, or chat with 988 anytime.