Swampscott Launches Mental Health Referral Service For Residents

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott students and residents now have access to a free outpatient mental health referral service.

Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald and Superintendent of Schools Pamela Angelakis said in a joint statement that the service is aimed at helping students and adults have greater access to mental health services.

"This is an incredibly challenging time for our community and residents' mental health and self-care," Fitzgerald said. "Even in non-pandemic times, having access to quality mental health care is crucial, and we are hopeful that this service will take down some of the barriers that make it challenging to receive the care people need.

"One simple call could help save a life."

The service began on Monday through the William James College INTERFACE Referral Service.

"Long before this pandemic, the social-emotional well-being of our students has been the district's top priority," Angelakis said. "Now, with the complications and challenges remote learning has presented, we worry about students’ mental health every single day. We have seen an increase in hospitalizations of our own students as well as watched the numbers increase across the Commonwealth. INTERFACE is an opportunity and an additional resource for our students and families during these challenging times."

The referral service is confidential and reliable and consists of speaking with a referral counselor and matching the student or resident with a licensed provider.

Matches should be made within a few business days of a call with appointments for counseling set up within three weeks. The service will then follow up with callers and provide information on additional support, if needed.

More information on the service can be found here.

The service is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling 888-244-6843.

This referral service is not a mental health hotline. Anyone needing immediate help should call 911.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)