"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.”
Community Team 2 has identified three strategies to focus their collective work together in 2022
Naloxone/Narcan
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.