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by Donna Shebley
Regional representative
September is National Recovery Month, and it’s a great time to highlight the resources available for mental health and addiction recovery. Help is there in person and over the phone, and I’m committed to raising awareness, connecting Hoosiers to services, and celebrating recovery.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kaiser Foundation reported that nearly one in 10 adults were living with mental illness. According to recent data, four out of 10 adults are now experiencing mental health problems after struggling to cope with or manage stress and anxiety.
Thanks to funding approved by state lawmakers, more than $54.8 million in community grants were recently awarded to 37 programs across the state to increase the quality and access to mental health and substance abuse treatment services.
Locally, the Hamilton County Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs received $250,000 to strengthen community overdose prevention efforts and rapid response teams in the Sheridan and Hamilton Heights school districts. This funding can be used to strengthen evidence-based alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention and mental health services. They also support prevention programs, known as QPR, that teach the warning signs of a suicidal crisis and connect individuals with the help they need.
A new three-digit hotline, 988, will also immediately connect anyone struggling with or going through a mental health-related crisis. Indiana’s Get Well Crisis Helpline is another free and confidential resource to connect with trained counselors by calling or visiting 211. BeWellIndiana.com.
Indiana and the rest of the country are facing an unprecedented epidemic of addiction and substance abuse, which are often closely related to mental health issues. Indiana Department of Health There was a more than 41 percent increase in drug overdose deaths between January and December 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
To combat this, Indiana recently spent $1.3 million on overdose prevention nonprofits and first responders to distribute naloxone, a life-saving antidote to overdoses, to more Hoosiers. Visit to receive a naloxone kit and receive training on how to use the live-saving drug overdoselifeline.org.
For loved ones on the road to recovery, getting tested is critical to staying on track. A phone call or visit can go a long way. For help navigating or connecting with state resources, please contact me at (317) 232-9863 or email me at [email protected].
State Rep. Donna Shabley (R-Carmel) represents House District 24, which includes parts of Boone and Hamilton counties.
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