INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana state leaders are working to make sure you and your family have access to everything you might need during this time. That includes financial assistance and mental health resources.
Mental health issues and substance abuse disorders can be triggered by isolation, according to mental health professionals. So, when the Indiana Family and Social Services staff started noticing an increase in calls for help, they decided to take action.
Since the stay-at-home order went into place in Indiana, calls to 911 for certain issues and crisis hotlines have been on the rise.
Suicide calls between March 13 and April 13 were up 138% in Marion County, domestic 911 calls during that time were up 46%. In St. Joseph County, mental problem investigation calls were up 50%.
"As we started to see these trends emerging we knew we had to put something together that was easily accessible to start providing a foundation of increased support for our state and our communities," Rachel Halleck, deputy director and chief of staff at the Division of Mental Health and Addiction at the Indiana and Social Services Administration, said.
Which is why Indiana and Social Services Administration has rolled out the bewellindiana.com website. It makes it easier to find tools to help you through the pandemic. You can find resources for mental health issues, substance abuse issues and financial assistance. There are also videos with tips on how to deal with this crisis, how to discuss it with your children and how to deal with the mental stress.
"What is important for people to understand is it's not a matter of if my mental health will be effected by this crisis it's about when and how," Halleck said.
"The website is new and the department is asking for feedback so that it can be as helpful to Hoosiers as possible.
