The Be Well Crisis Hotline recently passed an important milestone as it enters its sixth month of operation.
Crisis Counselors have helped over 6,000 Hoosiers experiencing emotional distress from COVID-19.
The service was launched in July and gives Hoosiers 24/7 access to experienced and compassionate counselors who are trained to help with the personal challenges caused by the pandemic.
According to data collected by counselors, 46% of the callers have a pre-existing trauma or substance use or mental health problem. Counselors referred 29% of callers to mental health treatment, 24% for additional community-based resources (food, clothing, housing, or utility assistance), and another 10% for additional crisis counseling.
The top distress calls that counselors have received include isolation or withdrawal (34%), issues with sleep (34%), anxiety or fearfulness (32%), and difficulty concentrating (27%).
To date, the helpline has answered 6,049 calls, with an average talk time of 18 minutes and 10 seconds. The average wait time is only 16 seconds.
To reach a counselor, call 211, enter your ZIP code, and follow the prompts to reach the Be Well Crisis Helpline.
The helpline is funded by a Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training program grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
For more information, visit BeWellIndiana.org.
