988 and the Disaster Distress Helpline Offer 24/7 Support
LOS ANGELES – Jan. 27, 2023 – Communities across California are reeling from a week of mass violence following the shootings in Goshen, Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay. Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services (Didi Hirsch) wants to ensure that individuals know where to turn for support with their mental health following incidents of mass violence.
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, a national leader in mental health and crisis care for the past 80 years and the statewide leader of all 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifelines in California, is also one of the operators for SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, which provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. The Monterey Park shooting happened on the heels of Lunar New Year celebrations, which can compound grief given the cultural significance of this holiday for many Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. It is also common for people who were not directly impacted by the event to feel emotional distress, trauma and grief. The Disaster Distress Helpline is a multilingual and confidential crisis support service available to all residents in the United States and its territories.
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services also leads the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline across California, which provides people in a mental health and suicidal crisis with compassionate 24/7 support. People can call on behalf of loved ones and receive support with helping their friend or family member. Calling 988 connects you with a suicide prevention and crisis counselor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visit www.crisiscare.org for more information on Didi Hirsch’s crisis counseling services.
Research repeatedly shows that people who are most in need of mental health support, don’t know where to turn. Stigma, lack of information and lack of resources are the most common barriers for seeking mental health support. Accessible mental health resources can be lifesaving.
If you or a loved one are experiencing emotional distress and are in need of support following the mass violence our communities have endured, call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or call or text 988 for 24/7 support. You can also chat with a crisis counselor online.
