Embedded Files
"Mental health means being in a place where you have that peace of mind, that happiness, that sense of being free, of having the ability to dream big and go for it.”
The Behavioral Health community team meets the first Tuesday of the month from 3-4 pm. To get involved, contact Liv Anna Homstead, Coalition Building Manager at the Public Health Institute of Western MA - LHomstead@publichealthwm.org.
Strategy Implementation
Strategy Implementation
Community Team 2 has identified three strategies to focus their collective work together in 2022
Naloxone/Narcan
Our team has developed a plan to implement the use of opioid overdose rescue kits (Naloxboxes), which contain narcan and other lifesaving supplies to prevent overdoses, in various locations throughout Hampden County.
Tapestry is conducting outreach to get these placed in Springfield and providing maintenance of these rescue kits. So far, naloxboxes have been placed at Open Door (corner of School & State Streets) and the Monkey Wrench Building (143 Main St). At least three additional sites are currently being identified.
If you are interested in a naloxbox being placed at your organization or another location, please reach out to lhomstead@publichealthwm.org.
Tapestry is conducting outreach to get these placed in Springfield and providing maintenance of these rescue kits. So far, naloxboxes have been placed at Open Door (corner of School & State Streets) and the Monkey Wrench Building (143 Main St). At least three additional sites are currently being identified.
If you are interested in a naloxbox being placed at your organization or another location, please reach out to lhomstead@publichealthwm.org.
A Substance Use Disorder De-Stigmatization Campaign (Sin Estigma) ran in October 2021. It channeled people to the campaign’s website on 413Cares.org, making it the 4th most visited page on the site.
Click here to hear the recorded PSAs in English and Spanish.
Expanding the campaign in 2022, Gándara will be producing several promotional videos that will share stories of those with lived experience, the science behind substance use disorder, and importance of Narcan.
Click here to hear the recorded PSAs in English and Spanish.
Expanding the campaign in 2022, Gándara will be producing several promotional videos that will share stories of those with lived experience, the science behind substance use disorder, and importance of Narcan.
Providing culturally relevant, bilingual suicide prevention and peer support training with Estoy Aqui LLC called La Cultura Sana Project: Customer Service Education with a Mental Health Twist. Estoy Aqui will train 45 people at local salons, barbershops, and other businesses whose employees interact closely with community members.
Want to learn more about this initiative? Click here.
For other Estoy Aqui training, access its training guide here.
Need more information? Please reach out to: estoyaquicommunity@gmail.com
Want to learn more about this initiative? Click here.
For other Estoy Aqui training, access its training guide here.
Need more information? Please reach out to: estoyaquicommunity@gmail.com
Behavioral Health in Hampden County
Behavioral health focuses on the daily habits, actions, and behaviors that impact mental and/or physical health. Substance use and mental health are urgent behavioral health needs affecting Hampden County as identified by Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) for Hampden County hospitals in 2016 and 2019. Substance use disorders overall, and opioid use specifically are top concerns, with overdose fatalities and overdose hospitalizations very high in some communities in Hampden County). Substance abuse-related ER visits are higher in Springfield and Holyoke than in the rest of the county, and the rates are particularly high among the Latino population. Youth substance abuse rates are also higher in Hampden County than in other parts of the state. There was overwhelming consensus among CHNA focus group participants, health care providers, administrators, and community members about the need for:
Increased education across all sectors to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and substance abuse;
More treatment options, including long term care;
Increased integration between the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders;
Increased support for families impacted by mental health conditions and substance abuse.
Community Team 2's goal is to work together to address these needs through the CHIP and other collaborative efforts, and will use the data from the upcoming 2022 CHNA to inform future work under the CHIP.
Looking for Help?
Seeking help takes courage. There are many supportive resources and services in Hampden County to help people experiencing mental health and substance use issues. There's also resources to help family and friends.
24/7 Crisis Line. BHN’s Crisis Program provides 24/7 front line response to individuals of all ages who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, regardless of insurance. Contact BHN Crisis Services 24 hours per day for help: Call (413) 733-6661 or walk in: 417 Liberty Street, Entrance B, Springfield MA 01104
Massachusetts Substance Abuse Helpline is a free service to help find substance abuse programs, support groups, meetings, counseling services, and community resources https://helplinema.org/ 800-327-5050
Search for many other resources in your community using 413Cares.org, an online database of hundreds of free or low-cost programs and services in Western MA. The site is completely free to use and can be used anonymously. You can also find several substance use treatment options on the Sin Estigma campaign page.
In an emergency, don’t be afraid to call 911. Good Samaritan laws protect victims and observers who call 911 from being charged, prosecuted or convicted for possession or use of illegal substances.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse