Austin Offers Free Health, Wellness Hotline Amid Coronavirus

AUSTIN, TX — The City of Austin has unveiled a health and wellness resource that provides short-term counseling and support to Austin workers and families whose mental health has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.

Starting Friday, residents living in an Austin City Council District have been able to speak with a counselor from Alliance Work Partners through a confidential 24-hour support line at 1-888-855-7483. Services are free and available in English, Spanish and more than 150 other languages, officials noted.

Alliance Work Partners’ counselors are expertly trained to support individuals experiencing stress, depression, anxiety, domestic violence, alcohol/drug abuse/dependency, marital/family issues and more. Counselors also provide resources and referrals for various needs, including childcare, eldercare, legal, and financial support. Alliance Work Partners may offer additional resources and referrals to other providers that could require payment.

En español: Austin Ofrece Apoyo De Salud, Bienestar Durante Coronanavirus

"Even if you aren’t sure if you suffer with mental health challenges, I want everyone to seek help to understand what they’re experiencing,” Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden said in a prepared statement. “It's important that you continue interactions with friends and loved ones and ask them to get help if they need it.”

If a resident is experiencing a mental health crisis, Alliance Work Partners will connect the individual to Integral Care, Travis County’s Local Mental Health Authority, for immediate support through their free 24/7 Crisis Helpline (512-472-HELP/4357).

Low- and moderate-income employees and former employees working in customer-facing industries— food/beverage service, retail, hospitality, and personal services (i.e., barbershops, salons, residential cleaning) and the like — are highly encouraged to access these free resources, city officials urged.

“Supporting our community’s mental health and wellness is extremely important in these times of uncertainty,” the city's Chief Economic Recovery Officer Veronica Briseño said in a prepared statement. “We strongly encourage Austinites utilize our COVID-19 Mental Health Resources if they need support getting through this challenging time.”

The COVID-19 Health and Wellness Support Line with Alliance Work Partners is funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and will close on Dec. 30 per CARES Act provisions. For continued assistance, contact Integral Care for immediate support through their free 24/7 Crisis Helpline (512-472-HELP/4357).

Visit www.ATXrecovers.com for more information on COVID-19 recovery resources.