Ellicott City Flood
Disaster Distress Helpline
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-, is a 24/7, 365-day-a–year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call 1- or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
Counseling Services
The Disaster Distress Helpline puts people in need of counseling on the path to recovery. Our staff members provide counseling and support before, during, and after disasters and refer people to local disaster-related resources for follow-up care and support. Since its launch in February 2012, the Disaster Distress Helpline has provided counseling and support in response to disasters such as , the Boston Marathon bombing, and the Ebola outbreak.
The Disaster Distress Helpline is staffed by trained counselors from a network of crisis call centers located across the United States. These counselors provide:
- Crisis counseling for people in emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster
- Information on how to recognize distress and its effects on individuals and families
- Tips for healthy coping
- Referrals to local crisis call centers for additional follow-up care and support
When you call or text, crisis counselors will listen to what’s on your mind with patience and without judgment. There is no need to give any identifying information when you contact the Disaster Distress Helpline. The counselor may ask you for some basic information at the end of the call, but these questions are optional and are intended to help SAMHSA keep track of the types of calls it receives.
Effective July 1, 2018, the Howard County Mental Health Authority (HCMHA), which has functioned as the local Core Service Agency for the past twenty years, officially absorbed into the Health Department, Bureau of Behavioral Health, under the newly established Local Behavioral Health Authority. While the structure of the local Core Service Agency (CSA) will change, its functions will remain the same. The CSA will continue to be responsible for planning, developing and managing the state funded public mental health system.
DO YOU NEED IMMEDIATE HELP?
Are You In Crisis?
Grassroots operates a 24-hour crisis intervention and supportive counseling hotline. Individuals may call for a variety of reasons including suicide, family and relationship problems, shelter needs, violent or threatening domestic situations, loneliness or depression, and chemical dependency issues, among others. Callers may remain anonymous. Call .
Anyone in need of immediate assistance may walk in to the agency at any time to see a counselor. An appointment is not needed to receive services. There is no fee for the service. Short term follow-up is offered until the client is connected with appropriate ongoing counseling or treatment resources. Walk-in counseling is geared towards the person or family in need of immediate support or crisis intervention services for a mental health, personal, situational or family crisis. Grassroots is located at 6700 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD 21044.
Howard County Mental Health Authority
Columbia, MD 21045
For a staff directory, click here.
