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A new era of crisis response: Philly police team up with mental health experts
Read full article from WHYY By Nicole Leonard July 17, 2023 The first call of the day from the 911 dispatch center came in shortly after 8 a.m. A mother called for help with her adult daughter, who has bipolar disorder. On this Friday morning, her daughter was intoxicated after drinking alcohol and becoming combative. […]
Has the 988 lifeline been effective? Philly officials say yes
Read the full report from KYW By Pat Loeb July 14, 2023 PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Would you know what number to call for help regarding a mental health crisis? Last year federal officials tried to make it easy by making 988 the national hotline for suicide prevention and other mental health challenges. They launched the number in […]
Philly marks one year anniversary of 988 suicide and crisis lifeline as city leaders announce new projects in the pipeline
Read full article by WHYY By Nicole Leonard July 14, 2023 A year ago this week, the national suicide and crisis lifeline re-launched as 988 – a new three-digit number designed to be an easier way for people to call for help. As Philadelphia’s behavioral health needs continue to remain high, city leaders say they’re building on […]
A year after the launch of 988, lack of trust and awareness an issue for the mental health hotline
Read full article at Inquirer.com By Lynette Hazelton and Abraham Gutman Sappho Fulton’s work with people experiencing homelessness requires her to navigate the community’s mental health resources every day. But there is a year-old resource that she hadn’t heard about: 988, a three-digit national mental health and suicide prevention hotline. “If anybody needs to know […]
Philadelphia community tries to heal from trauma as shooter’s mental health comes into focus
Read full article by Associated Press BY CLAUDIA LAUER July 7, 2023 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In the weeks before Kimbrady Carriker opened fire at random with an AR-15 in southwest Philadelphia killing five people and wounding four others including several children, the few people close to him had watched him grow increasingly agitated and erratic, sometimes pacing the house wearing […]
DBHIDS Commissioner’s Statement on Kingsessing Tragedy
The expectation of safety in our own city, in our own homes, was shattered once again this week when an armed man walked through the city’s Kingsessing neighborhood, shooting and killing five people and injuring several more. My heart goes out to those who suffered physically – and to those who continue to experience trauma […]
Philly mobile crisis response units eye expansion with extra $3 million in funding
Read full article from Philly Voice BY KRISTIN HUNT City Council approved a $6.2 billion budget for the 2024 fiscal year on Thursday, one which earmarks sizable funds to upgrade Philly’s rec centers, clean up business corridors and offer hiring bonuses for certain city jobs. The budget also provides an extra $3 million for mobile crisis response units, […]
Podcast Alert: ‘Community Conversations with Dr. Jill Bowen’ Premieres
The inaugural episode of the new TEC-focused podcast from DBHIDS Commissioner Jill Bowen, Ph.D., is now available on Spotify. “Community Conversations with Dr. Jill Bowen” brings together the Commissioner of the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services with community members from across the region to discuss important issues related to […]
Complete Your Medicaid or CHIP Renewal
Did you get information in the mail about renewing your Medicaid or CHIP coverage? If you get your health coverage through the state, you must complete a renewal every year. If this renewal is not completed, you could lose your Medicaid or CHIP coverage. When this packet arrives, you have to complete and return it by the […]
Summer heat: How the City protects people experiencing homelessness
Read the full blog at Phila.gov So far this year, Philadelphia has enjoyed a long spring with comfortable temperatures. As we get into summer weather, heat and humidity can nevertheless rise quickly. A sudden change can catch us off guard and is especially dangerous for certain people. Those experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable. […]
