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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Tuesday, Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day, a day to promote positive mental health in the community.
The Boston Public Health Commission is launching an awareness campaign to bring attention to supportive programs, services, and resources available to residents.
"We’re trying to make sure that the larger society knows they don’t have to be potentially experiencing challenges by themselves," Dr. Kevin Simon, Boston’s Chief Behavioral Health Officer, told WBZ NewsRadio.
Noting an increase in mental health emergencies for both adults and youth over the course of the pandemic, Simon said it was vital that residents recognize "there are avenues to pursue if they are experiencing a mental health or behavioral health emergency."
One of these avenues is the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line, a 24/7 clinical hotline offering clinical assessment, treatment referrals, and crisis triage services. The help line also offers referrals to the nearest Community Behavioral Health Center when appropriate.
The number for the Behavioral Health Help Line is 833-773-2445.
In addition, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is sponsoring free Bluebikes Adventure Passes on Tuesday, providing riders with unlimited two-hour rides throughout the day across the system's 13 municipalities: Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Newton, Revere, Salem, Somerville, and Watertown.
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
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