![]() Aparicio added that she expects to see calls increase over the next few months, even as people begin to return to pre-pandemic life. Liz Aparicio, an assistant professor of behavioral health with University of Maryland's School of Public Health, says the proactive check-in system is an innovative approach to crisis response. Nationwide, calls and messages to the NAMIHelpLine were up 70% in 2020 compared to 2019, according to a February report. During the pandemic, mental health crisis calls to Maryland's 211 system increased 61% in the last quarter of 2020 compared with the same time period in 2019, according to the Maryland Department of Health. She said the new law came to fruition in part because of a spike in mental health crisis calls during the pandemic. "We can replicate that for mental health issues," Cyphers said.Ĭyphers testified for the bill in Annapolis earlier this year. The state already had 2-1-1 programs for seniors to opt-in to get reminders about taking medication and doctors' appointments. "It gives a lot of hope to the behavioral health community.It's brave and it's brought a lot of hope to many families that deal with mental illness," Cyphers said. ![]() Moira Cyphers, a policy and advocacy consultant with the National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI), told DCist/WAMU that Raskin's openness helped normalize and destigmatize talking about mental health and suicide. ![]() Raskin spoke out in interviews about his son's suicide and long battle with mental illness. The Thomas Bloom Raskin Act is named after Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin's son, who took his own life earlier this year. The program will allow those struggling with mental health issues to opt-in to receive calls from counselors through the state's 2-1-1 system. The Maryland legislature passed a law aimed at helping those in crisis, naming it after Raskin's son.Ī law establishing a new program in Maryland to support residents having mental health crises takes effect Thursday. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., lost his son earlier this year to suicide. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |