The Association for Mental Health and Wellness (MHAW) – Suffolk County’s largest not-for-profit provider of programs, services, and advocacy for people facing mental health challenges – is offering an Emotional Support Helpline staffed by trained crisis counselors who help callers talk through their emotions and find resources to help them cope with challenges associated with COVID-19.

 

MHAW is serving as a Suffolk County partner agency in the helpline initiative hosted by NY Project Hope, a program of the New York State Office of Mental Health.

 

The Emotional Support Helpline is 631-471-7242 ext. 1800. Trained crisis counselors are available Monday through Friday between 9:00 am and 7:00 pm. All helpline conversations are free, confidential, and anonymous.

 

“The Emotional Support Helpline will connect you with someone who has been trained to hear what you are saying and give you the kind of support that works best for you during the pandemic,” said Tara Fredericks, MHAW’s Director of Special Projects who is also overseeing Project Hope for MHAW. “They can offer coping strategies, supportive resources, or simply a chance to talk.”   

 

“As the leading mental health agency in Suffolk County, we’re proud that MHAW is well-positioned to play a leadership role in this timely initiative,” said Colleen Merlo, CEO of MHAW. “People don’t need to grapple with these stresses on their own. NY Project Hope is offering great value during this difficult period.”

 

In addition to the Emotional Support Helpline, NY Project Hope helps New Yorkers understand their reactions and emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic through digital educational materials, a supportive social media presence, and a website with resources and relevant materials at www.nyprojecthope.org.

 

Other partner agencies in Suffolk County include the Northside Center for Child Development in North Bay Shore, Hispanic Counseling also in North Bay Shore, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless in Amityville, and the Empowerment Collaborative of Long Island in Central Islip.  

 

NY Project Hope is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administered by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).

 

About the Association for Mental Health and Wellness

 Based in Ronkonkoma, the Association for Mental Health and Wellness (MHAW) is a not-for-profit organization that provides programs, services, and advocacy for people facing mental health challenges, with an enhanced focus on serving military veterans.