As part of its $305 million plan to "change the culture" around mental illness, NYC now has its own round-the-clock mental health hotline called NYC Well. First Lady Chirlane McCray said, "No matter where you live or how much money you make, you can reach out to NYC Well with a call, text or chat. If you are a spouse worrying that drugs or alcohol are taking over your partner’s life; a parent concerned about changes in your teenager’s behavior; so stressed that you can’t work or so sad and lonely, you struggle to leave your home, NYC Well is here for you. The service is free, confidential and accessible in more than 200 languages, 365 days of the year and 24/7. Just like our city, it never sleeps."
NYC Well is part of the Thrive NYC initiative, which is addressing and destigmatizing mental illness. The issue is personal for Mayor Bill de Blasio and his family—de Blasio's father was an alcoholic and committed suicide; daughter Chiara has struggled with addiction and depression.
A press release explained, "New Yorkers feeling symptoms of anxiety, depression, or addiction should first seek help from friends, family, or a health care professional. However, there are many who do not have this option or don’t know where to turn. For those who need help, NYC Well is one point of entry to the City’s array of behavioral health services. It is free, confidential and available to anyone regardless of the language they speak, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year long. New Yorkers can access NYC Well by calling 1-888-NYC-WELL, texting WELL to 65173, or online chat by going to nyc.gov/nycwell. Phone counseling is available in English, Spanish, or Chinese, with translation available in more than 200 languages. Text and chat are available in English, Spanish and Chinese."
[For more of this story, written by Jen Chung, go to http://gothamist.com/2016/10/2...amp;utm_medium=email]
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