Staff Contact: Shawn Billings
Millions of Americans live with a mental health condition, and all of us are affected by mental illness directly or indirectly through family, friends or coworkers. Despite the reach and prevalence of mental illness, stigma also unfortunately is widespread. Each year, Mental Illness Awareness Week takes place during the first week of October. During this time, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and participants throughout the U.S. raise awareness of mental illness to educate the public, fight stigma and provide support.
In support of Missouri community members struggling with mental health, the Missouri Department of Mental Health developed a dedicated hotline, Access Crisis Intervention, providing immediate access to services for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. By calling the ACI hotline, individuals have access to behavioral health crisis services that are free and available to both youth and adults.
- All calls are strictly confidential.
- ACI hotlines are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by behavioral health professionals who are available to provide assistance.
- Assistance may include phone contact, referrals to resources in the community, next day behavioral health appointments or a mobile response. Mobile is defined as either going to the location of the crisis or to another secure community location.