Bereavement/ Grief
Pennsylvania Support and Referral Helpline can help refer you to a grief therapist. Call them at 1(855)284-2494/TTY: 724-631-5600.
The Philadelphia government website provides a list of grief support groups, check it out at https://www.phila.gov/services/mental-physical-health/get-bereavement-support/
Children & Teens
If possible, talk to an adult in your life about your mental health issues. If the adults in your life are not providing the care or help you feel you need, please text the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to get a conversation started.
You can also call The Lifeline at 1(800)273-8255 if you have mental health concerns about yourself or someone you know.
If you think something violent might happen at school, you can submit an anonymous tip online here. Or you can down load the Safe2Say App or call them at 1-844-SAFE2SAY (723-2729).
Parents or adults who are concerned about a child or teen can contact the same agencies listed above.
However, if you suspect substance or alcohol abuse there is a helpline specifically for parents through the Partnership to End Addiction. They have support groups, personalized messages and Helpline Specialist and can be reached here.
Addiction The Next Step also has a crisis toolkit that can be found here.
If you suspect abuse of a child (human under the age of 18) please call ChildLine at 1(800)932-0313 and/or to visit Keep Kids Safe, click here.
Domestic Violence
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) has more than 50 programs to help DV survivors find safety, for a complete list, click here. They provide free and confidential counseling, legal advice, shelter and economic services to survivors.
Not sure if you qualify as a survivor, click here to take a quiz from PCADV.
LGBTQIA+
Pennsylvania does not appear to sponsor an LGBTQIA+ specific website or hotline, but they refer you to the national ones. They are listed on my National Resource page or can be found here.
I did find GayFriendlyPennsylvania.com, which provides information about LGBTQIA+ friendly businesses around the state. To visit the website, click here.
Mental Health
PMHC offers Psychiatric, Telehealth, Pediatric, Individual/ Family/ Couples Counseling, Mobile Mental Health Services, Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) and CBH Open Access Services. They also offer a self-pay option for uninsured individuals. Check them out at https://pmhccares.org/about/
The PA.gov website has several resources but mostly linked to national organizations that offer mental health support, you can see it here.
Calling 211 is also an option, or visit their website here
Mental Health Crisis: Emergency Services
If you are an adult who is having a mental health or substance abuse emergency, you may go to any of Philadelphia’s Crisis Response Centers (CRC), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Check them out here https://philadelphia.pa.networkofcare.org/mh/emergency-services.aspx
If you are in a mental or substance abuse emergency, you can call THE SUICIDE AND CRISIS
INTERVENTION LINE AT 215-686-4420 or call 911.
If you are unsure of where to go, call THE OFFICE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EMERGENCY/INFORMATION LINE AT 215-685-6440.
Inpatient Psychiatric Care in the state of Pennsylvania is Voluntary (201) or Involuntary (302). Someone would qualify for inpatient psychiatric care because they are believed to “be a clear and present danger” to themselves or others due to mental illness or substance abuse.
For Voluntary Commitment, there are a couple of things that need to happen. 1) the individual needs to go to the hospital for an evaluation. The hospital will complete the necessary paperwork and admit the individual or find them another location with an open bed.
For an Involuntary Commitment, the process is trickier. The person who is believed “to be a clear and present danger” must be taken to the hospital and evaluated under the authorization of a doctor or police officer. Sometimes, the person’s loved one or another member of the community (like their doctor or a leader in their church) fills out a portion of and signs the 302, petitioning the county mental health administration to issue a warrant.
Click here to see the Involuntary 302 and here to see the Voluntary 201. More information about these processes can be found in the blog.
*Somebody is actively using substances or alcohol will need to detox prior to getting inpatient psychiatric care. Some facilities offer both detox and psychiatric care but many do not. The hospital case manager will be able to help guide you through this process.
Mental Health Parity
Something pretty cool that PA offers, that other states don’t, is the Mental Health Parity which requires insurance companies to cover mental health issues just like it would physical health issues. Read more about it here.
Older Adults
According to the Department of Human Services, in 2019, Pennsylvania ranked 7th in the United States with the largest number of adults 65 and older. In the U.S., between 2020 and 2030, the number of older adults is projected to increase by almost 18 million, a 39% increase. The fastest growing segment of the population during the next two decades is expected to be in the age 85 and older group. Social isolation and limited access to supports negatively impacts the well-being of older adults. Read the whole bulletin here.
However, there is no state led resources for older adults that I could find. I would recommend that older adults contact their local Area Agency of Aging office for better information. To find your local office, click here.
Sexual Assault & Violence
Every state has its own directory of organizations that lists state and territory assault coalitions, victim/survivor support organizations and local communities of color organizations. Pennsylvania has POAR.
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (POAR) has a website that can help victims identify rape crisis centers and provides access to resources, you can find out more about them here or by calling 1(888)772-7227.
Something interesting that Pennsylvania offers is House Bill 962, which added a section that offers up to $5,000 in counseling services to survivors of sexual assault of crimes committed in Pennsylvania. Survivors of sexual assault do not have to fill out a police report in order to qualify. To apply for this benefit, click here. To read more about it, click here.
Victims or survivors of non-sexual crimes are also able to apply for benefits, but they must complete a police report. To find out more, click here.
Substance Abuse/ Alcohol Abuse
PA does not have it’s own version of AA or any of the anonymous organizations but you can find their information on my National Resource page or here.
They do recommend Smart Recovery, which you can read about here. I do not know anything about it or anyone who has used it.
Pennsylvania does have a resource for Opioid and Heroin addiction, which can be found here.
Suicide Hotline
Text 988, Call 911, or GO TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM