A Lincoln Park nonprofit outpatient treatment center for mental health and substance abuse is now offering therapy resources to members of the Wayne County hospitality community who have been impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The new program, which Community Care Services (CCS) launched today, dedicates therapists for telehealth assessment, therapy sessions, and health services for both current and former food industry workers who may be dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues.
The CCS program was created with the recognition that many individuals in the hospitality industry do not have insurance or wellness benefits. CCS plans to help identify resources to offset the cost of services and will also accept clients with little or no insurance.
“We know that the hospitality industry has been especially hard hit by the COVID-19 crisis, and we want to reach out to this tight-knit community to provide as much needed supportive services that we can,” Susan Kozak, CCS executive director, says in a release. “Our initial focus will be to immediately address symptoms like anxiety, depression, and struggles with substance use.”
Hospitality workers within Wayne County can call 313-389-7500 and be connected with someone at CCS who can help with screening and courses of treatment, and also provide support and resources for how to get additional help. There’s also a resources toolkit available online.
Hospitality workers experience higher rates of substance abuse and depression than those in other professions, but often do not have the financial resources or health insurance to seek help. The effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic may potentially exacerbate those problems, as many workers have been laid off or are struggling with social distancing-related feelings of isolation compounded by an already traumatic situation. For those who were in substance abuse programs, the traditional routines such as regular meetings have been canceled or moved online.
On Monday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) launched its own so-called “warmline” for residents struggling with their mental health during the pandemic. They can now call 888-733-7753 seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. and the state will connect them with support specialists.
Calls to national and local substance abuse and mental health lines were up across the board last month, as the novel coronavirus wreaked havoc across the country and pushed services from unemployment agencies to hospitals to their limits. Creating additional lines of communication such as the one at CCS helps to take some pressure off of the most urgent crisis hotlines, while making sure people get the help they need.
If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. For international resources, here is a good place to begin.
Eater is tracking the impact of the novel coronavirus on the local food industry. Have a story to share? Reach out at detroit@eater.com.
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