Find local resources for mental health: Bucks County and Montgomery County
988 New Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – The new 988 dialing code provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for anyone having mental health-related distress, like thoughts of suicide, a mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. It’s available nationwide for call (multiple languages), text, or chat (English only) starting on July 16, 2022 and works through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the lead federal agency for the lifeline, in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information about 988 or the 988 Partner Toolkit, visit SAMHSA.gov/find-help/988.
Abington Jefferson Health. Please see below for updated information regarding Abington Jefferson Health Clinics and Support Groups, with information available in English, Brazilian, Portuguese, Korean, and Spanish.
Safe Harbor, Jefferson Health – Abington’s program for grieving children, teens and families, is calling for volunteers. The next volunteer training will be January 8 and 9, 2022. Prior volunteer experience is not necessary. All are welcome to sign-up. Our staff and volunteers work closely with children, teens and their caregivers to create a supportive environment where sharing feelings and concerns helps participants move through their healing process. Learn more and share the flyer!
A Matter of Balance, Jefferson Health – Abington: Many older adults experience concerns about falling and restrict their activities. A Matter of Balance is an award-winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. Learn more!
Access Services, Intersect. This initiative from Access Services supports those standing at the intersection of faith and mental health. Intersect is run by a team of staff equipped to train, consult and collaborate with human services providers and faith communities.
Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter offers virtual support groups and resources for dementia caregivers. Learn more here.
Center for Loss and Bereavement offersmany resources for children and adults including counseling, support groups and education programs. See what they have going on in 2022, Learn more here.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shares As of January 1, 2022, consumers have new billing protections when getting emergency care, non-emergency care from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, and air ambulance services from out-of-network providers. Through new rules aimed to protect consumers, excessive out-of-pocket costs are restricted, and emergency services must continue to be covered without any prior authorization, and regardless of whether or not a provider or facility is in-network.
Previously, if consumers had health coverage and got care from an out-of-network provider, their health plan usually wouldn’t cover the entire out-of-network cost. This left many with higher costs than if they’d been seen by an in-network provider. This is especially common in an emergency situation, where consumers might not be able to choose the provider. Even if a consumer goes to an in-network hospital, they might get care from out-of-network providers at that facility. In many cases, the out-of-network provider could bill consumers for the difference between the charges the provider billed, and the amount paid by the consumer’s health plan. This is known as balance billing. An unexpected balance bill is called a surprise bill.
CMS has developed a number of fact sheets to help consumers understand their rights under the new law. They include:
For more information and resources visit their website.
Child Guidance Resource Centers offers an article on grieving during the holidays, and how to support those you love while grieving. Read “When the Holidays Aren’t So Happy: Supporting Loved Ones Who Grieving During the Holidays” here.
Family Services of Montgomery County’s Project HOPE offers free and confidential Hepatitis C, STI, and HIV Testing at two locations in Montgomery County, as well as information on how to connect to PrEP services, case management, and at-home testing. Please click here for the flyer or contact Ana Torres.
HealthLink is a free dental clinic serving uninsured, low-wage earning adults and military veterans in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Click here for the flyer sharing more information and services!
Hepatitis B Foundation celebrated a victory in the battle universal hepatitis B vaccination. The CDC’s Advisory Committee makes a landmark vote to recommend this vaccine for all adults ages 19 to 59 in the U.S. Adults 60 and older are recommended to follow risk-based guidelines to determine if they should receive the vaccine. Read more about the decision here.
Hope and Help Network. Developing a Healthy Grieving Program to help churches, organizations, or agencies seeking to assist their members with handling grief through loss. A special component deals with traumatic grief. Learn more by email or phone 215-301-1436.
HopeWorx promotes the continued development of a community environment that supports and believes in the expertise and passion of consumers to create and direct their own paths to health and recovery, leading to the ultimate goal of reliance of oneself or one’s own power.
ICNA (Muslims for Humanity). To learn more about the Shams Clinic serving the Philadelphia area, click here. To register for the programs below, contact Aneeza Fazli-Haq, Clinic Operations Manager/Counselor
Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia . COVID-19 response & resources here: www.jfcsphilly.org/covid19resources
Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund Shining A Light series! This series inspires, engages and offers tangible topics/resources for families, the community and healthcare professionals as it relates to the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund mission of “lightening the burdens and lifting the spirits of families caring for children with serious illnesses, disabilities, and injuries, while respecting the pride and dignity of families in need. The Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund provides financial assistance for needs not covered by insurance, respite programs, and non-cash items to families in PA, New Jersey, and Delaware; the Fund advocates for and provides education and information to families nationwide.” Tune in to the Shining A Light series. Typically hosted Thursdays at 12pm.
Lakeside Global Institute has video resource series available: Coping with COVID-19 for Parents: A video series by Lakeside
Mental Health Partnerships offers weekly virtual drop in office hours, where families and community providers can learn about how MHP supports families, ask questions and receive resources and support, and connect face to face with the Family Peer Support Partners in the office. Get the flyer here! No pre-registration is required. Every Monday (excluding holidays), 11:45 am-1:45 pm. Join through zoom. Questions: 267-977-4930
Mental Health Partnerships also offers Parent/Caregiver Virtual Support Groups. Join for virtual family support groups where you can connect with other parents who share similar experiences, learn about resources, receive non-judgmental support, and share stories of hope and strength. Get the flyer here! All support groups are co-facilitated by Family Peer Support Partners. 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month (excluding holidays), 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. A separate one-time pre-registration is required for both 2nd and 4th week sessions. A Zoom link will be provided in the confirmation email. Questions: 267-977-4930
Montco CSP – The Community Support Program of Montgomery County invites you to complete our annual Assessment of Needs survey, available now through February 28, 2022. Montco CSP is comprised of people who use mental health services, providers, family members, supporters and county staff and their mission is to improve mental health services in Montgomery County. By filling out this survey you will enable Montco CSP, in partnership with the Office of Mental Health, to better voice your thoughts and concerns for future
planning.
Montgomery County Community College offers POWER (Partnership On Work Enrichment and Readiness Program), a FREE two-college credit course, offered to anyone in recovery from mental health and/or substance misuse disorder. They are accepting applications for the spring semester now. Classes will be offered on-campus, in-person on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our mandatory orientation will be held on January 13, 2022, and the first day of class beginning January 20, 2022. It is easy to apply. You can click on this link and submit an application.
Montgomery County Health and Human Services
Montgomery County Hearing Voices Network. Join us for a Taking Back Our Power hearing voices group. These groups are open to anyone with the experience of hearing voices, or experiencing other phenomena not shared by others. We offer a non-clinical, non-judgmental environment for free and open discussion away from traditional psychiatric treatment. If you hear, see, smell, or feel things that other people can’t perceive, this group is for you. Everything that happens in the meetings in confidential. We’re available for you three times a week, online. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 3pm. Learn more here.
Montgomery County Office of Drug & Alcohol Services. 610-278-3642
Montgomery County Office of Public Health. View Health Center and other information and resources. For COVID-19 specific information, including testing and vaccines, click here.
NAMI Bucks County is offering Ending the Silence, a mental health and suicide awareness program for all Bucks County students. Ending the Silence instills a message of hope and recovery and encourages teens to reduce stigma and end the silence surrounding mental illness. Click here for more information. Click here for information about online support groups and wellness events.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or is considering suicide, help is available. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact Crisis Text Line by texting PA to 741-741.
PA Department of Drug and Alcohol, Drug Take Back Locations provide convenient, responsible and safe means of disposing prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential abuse of medications. This initiative is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol.
PA Department of Health. Pennsylvania Support and Referral Helpline (Persevere PA, COVID-19 Crisis Counseling Program) has trained professionals available 24/7 ready to help you navigate these unprecedented challenges. These services are free and confidential. Connect with a free crisis counselor if you’re feeling alone, stressed, or overwhelmed. Call 855-284-2494 or Click here for the flyer
Pennsylvanian’s Get Help Now Hotline is a confidential hotline available around the clock, 365 days a year to connect you or a loved one with local substance use treatment and services. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
PA Health Access Network (PHAN)
Pennie: The official health insurance marketplace for Pennsylvania. Read more, including how the American Rescue Plan Act has improved access to coverage and care! Key enrollment dates are included.
St. Luke’s Penn Foundation. Learn more about the Kinship Support Group that offers grandparents and family members the opportunity to meet with others who are raising children as a result of the opioid epidemic.
Please see the flyer for additional details.
SE Regional Mental Health Services Coordination Office. This Office serves as the central contact for regional specialty services and oversees, coordinates, and identifies opportunities for service development. The office is also the gatekeeper for regional specialty services, and arranges technical assistance and consultation as needed to ensure that services are tailored to support individual needs. In addition, the office provides trainings for Mental Health First Aid, QPR-Suicide Prevention, and the National GAINS Center Trauma Trainings.
Tend to Hope’s mission is to provide self-care items and hope-building resources to individuals in mental health crisis facilities. Their “Seeds of Hope” bags are designed to enhance treatment and restore dignity by helping individuals feel more human, cared for and worthy of a good life. Learn more!
The American Red Cross – Several Bucks County hospitals have expressed they have a critically low blood supply, with others in need as well. If you are looking for a way to help our community during these challenging days, please consider donating blood as soon as possible. The American Red Cross can help you find a blood drive near you: https://www.redcrossblood.org/ with this message on their website: “The American Red Cross is facing a national blood crisis – its worst blood shortage in over a decade, posing a concerning risk to patient care. Doctors have been forced to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available. Blood and platelet donations are critically needed to help prevent further delays in vital medical treatments.”
Veterans Crisis Line: If you are a veteran and in crisis, you can call the toll-free Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is available to everyone. All calls are confidential.
Victim Services Center of Montgomery County offers two support groups for the community: