Mental Health Resources

Mental health research shows it may take months or even years for some people to recover emotionally from experiencing something like the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Stay Well program has scheduled two free summer webinar series focused on supporting mental wellness and strengthening resilience.

"MDHHS has recognized the value of helping people take care of their behavioral health as well as their physical health during the fight against COVID-19 and will continue to do whatever we can to help Michiganders address their mental health needs," said Allen Jansen, senior deputy director of the department's Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration - and a featured speaker at this week's Incompass Michigan Leadership Conference. "The idea is to give Michiganders feeling distressed by the pandemic some new ways to channel their thoughts and energy this summer. Or, as we like to say, be kind to your mind." 

Click for additional information on the Stay Well program, including links to register for the webinar series.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced that they are providing confidential emotional support counseling is now available 24/7 at no cost to Michiganders who call the state’s COVID-19 hotline. Callers to the COVID-19 hotline will hear a recording that begins by saying to press “8” if they would like to speak with a Michigan Stay Well counselor. The counselors, though not licensed professionals, have received specialized training from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Technical Assistance Center on how to provide emotional support to residents of federally declared disaster areas. A major disaster was declared in Michigan on Friday, March 27, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan Stay Well counselors are available any time, day or night, by dialing the COVID-19 hotline at 888-535-6136 and pressing 8 when prompted. Language translation is available for non-English speakers.

State employee volunteers also continue to answer general COVID-19 questions on the hotline. The current hours for general questions are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To access a variety of emotional support resources in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, visit Michigan.gov/StayWell

Since 1949, human service organizations across the country have led the observance of May as Mental Health Month by reaching millions of people through the media, local events and screenings. You can spread the word that mental health is something everyone should care about by using a May is Mental Health Month toolkit materials and conducting awareness activities.

While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. Mental Health America is offering practical tools that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase resiliency regardless of the situations they are dealing with. These tools – even those that may need to be adapted for the short term because of COVID-19 and social distancing – can be more useful now than ever.

Click to download the 2020 May is Mental Health Month Toolkit.

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) on Disability Inclusion has developed a Mental Health Toolkit, a gateway to background, tools and resources that can help employers learn more about mental health issues and cultivate a welcoming and supportive work environment for employees who may be facing mental health issues. It also presents an easy-to-follow framework for fostering a mental health-friendly workplace, all built around the “4 A’s”:  Awareness, Accommodations, Assistance and Access.

Click to view the EARN Mental Health Toolkit.

If you or the people your organization serves are feeling emotional distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, help is available. There are many ways to connect with emotional-support services without the need to leave home - ranging from Q&A hotlines, peer-supported "warmlines" for folks living with serious mental illness or substance use challenges, and the recently introduced crisis text line for those experiencing emotional stress and anxiety but are more comfortable texting than talking. 

Click to view the State of Michigan web page with links to mental health resources.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is launching a statewide warmline for Michiganders living with persistent mental health conditions. The warmline will connect individuals with certified peer support specialists who have lived experiences of behavioral health issues, trauma or personal crises, and are trained to support and empower the callers. 

Warmlines are an alternative to traditional psychiatric crisis hotlines and are used to avoid extreme emotional distress that can lead to hospitalization or other severe outcomes that are preventable with early intervention of peer support. 

The warmline will operate seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. at 888-PEER-753 (888-733-7753). It is intended to serve individuals living with persistent mental health challenges including anxiety, depression and trauma. Individuals in crisis, including those considering suicide, are urged to contact the Disaster Distress Helpline 24/7 at 800-985-5990 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 800-273-8255.

“The warmline will help individuals with long-term mental health challenges find someone to talk to – someone who has lived these challenges themselves – and do it while staying safe and staying home,” said Robert Gordon, MDHHS director. “COVID-19 is a grave threat not just to physical health, but also to mental health, and we are doing everything we can to offer supports for everyone.”  

Click to view the full press release.

Getting crisis mental health support is now as simple as sending a text to a new service being launched by MDHHS as part of its Stay Home, Stay Well initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic. By texting the keyword RESTORE to 741741, Michigan residents can have a confidential text conversation with a crisis counselor.

Trained counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to texts from Michigan residents who are facing a mental health crisis — everything from anxiety and financial issues to suicide and domestic violence. While the text line is starting during the pandemic, MDHHS intends to continue offering the service in the future.

The text line is provided by Crisis Text Line, an organization established in 2013 that has provided this type of support on an international level with the recognition that with new technologies, texting is a fast and easy way to connect and may be the preferred way for some people who need immediate support.

Click to view the full Press Release on the Crisis Text Line.

Governor Whitmer gave an update on the response to COVID-19 alongside Chief Medical Executive Dr. Khaldun. The governor focused on  the toll COVID-19 has taken on the physical and mental health of Michiganders and she announced the state’s partnership with Headspace to create a curated collection of new mental health resources for Michiganders to access for free during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Stay Home, Stay Mindful website can guide people through mindful exercises, sleep and kids content to help address rising stress and anxiety. She also announced that Michigan was recently awarded a $2 million dollar emergency behavioral health service grant to strengthen mental health and substance use disorder services.