Behavioral health outreach begins immediately
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Mental Health was awarded a $2.27 million Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Show Me Hope CCP funding will provide behavioral health services to Missourians who are emotionally troubled by the pandemic. Crisis counselors statewide will deliver stress management and resource referral to citizens feeling the stress and emotional strain caused by COVID-19. The Show Me Hope team will assistance Missourians in building hope and resiliency for the future.
Counties and contact information for the 24 Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) participating in the CCP are listed at the end of this release.
A Crisis Counseling Program traditionally helps people recover and rebuild their lives after a disaster. Counselors offer short-term interventions including:
- Helping disaster survivors understand their current situation and reactions
- Reducing stress and providing emotional support
- Assisting survivors in reviewing their disaster recovery options
- Promoting the use or development of coping strategies
- Connecting survivors with other people and agencies who can help them in their recovery process
Show Me Hope follows these key principles that are different from other survivor support programs:
- Strengths-based: CCP services promote resilience, empowerment, and recovery.
- Anonymous: Crisis counselors do not classify, label, or diagnose people. No records or case files are kept.
- Outreach-oriented: Crisis counselors deliver services in the communities rather than wait for survivors to seek their assistance.
- Conducted in nontraditional settings: Crisis counselors usually make contact in homes and communities, not in clinical or office settings. During COVID-19, services and outreach will be done using virtual technology.
- Designed to strengthen existing community support systems: The CCP supplements, but does not end or replace, existing community systems.
Show Me Hope crisis counselors are available to any Missourian experiencing stress or emotional strain due to COVID-19. Citizens may also contact the Disaster Distress Helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-985-5990 or send a text message “TalkWithUs” to 66746.
