Do you feel alone? Help is available.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a complex array of challenges including social isolation. As a result of curfews, stay-at-home mandates, and the need to keep gatherings to a minimum, people are staying at home more and experiencing unprecedented levels of isolation and a strain on their mental health. The Bedford Health and Human Services Department wants to make Bedford residents aware that supports are available.
The Town of Bedford offers Social Services to any resident in need
Social Workers are available to assist residents in meeting their needs and navigating challenges through providing resources and solution-focused case management. If you or someone you know has concerns regarding mental health please reach out to the Social Workers for support. The Bedford Council on Aging has a variety of different groups being conducted over Zoom to support our older residents who are at home but still want to be active and connected.
For more information:
- If you are over 60, please contact Danika Castle at the Council on Aging at 781-275-6825.
- If you are under 60, please contact Christopher Bang at Youth and Family Services at 781-999-4017.
Mental Health services are available, please do not hesitate to call
The Interface Helpline at 888-244-6843 is available Monday-Friday from 9 am – 5 pm and accessible to Bedford residents and students of the Bedford Public Schools. Referral counselors perform a confidential 15-20 minute intake and match callers with a local mental health provider based on need, insurance, preferred gender, location, and area of practice. Typically, a caller is connected with a mental health provider with an available appointment in two weeks. Funding for this service is a Town of Bedford and Bedford Public Schools collaboration. For more information and to access resources related to social service and mental health topics, visit the Interface Referral Service website at https://interface.williamjames.edu/community/bedford.
Eliot Community Human Services Mental Health Counseling provides therapeutic counseling to Bedford students and residents. At this time telehealth services are in place and, as needed, in-person therapy at Eliot’s Concord clinic location is available. Residents are not charged their insurance co-pay for appointments and lack of insurance is not a barrier to start counseling. Residents can contact the Youth and Family Services office at 781-275-7727 for a referral or contact Eliot directly at 978-369-1113.
Immediate Supports are available for individuals experiencing a strain on their mental health, feelings of isolation, and/or experiencing an emotional crisis
Mass Support – call 888-215-4920 – Mass Support counselors and clinicians are available to provide support, resources, and education. Please call Monday through Saturday 8 am – 8 pm.
National Disaster Distress Helpline – call 800-985-5990 – or text “talk with us” to 66746: dedicated to providing crisis counseling and support 24/7/365 for anyone in the U.S. experiencing emotional distress or other mental health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster.
Samaritan Hotline – call 1-877-870-4673: available if you feel suicidal, lonely or depressed and you need someone to talk to or are concerned about someone; connect with a trained volunteer who will offer non-judgmental support.
Trans Lifeline Hotline – call 877-565-8860: peer support for trans and questioning individuals.
Advocates – call 800-640-5432 and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – call 800-273-TALK or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741: contact them if you are in crisis or worried about a loved one.
Adolescent specific resources – If you are an adolescent and you need to talk to someone or an adolescent you know is in crisis, contact:
Your Life/Your Voice Teen Hotline – call/text 1-800-448-3000 or navigate to www.yourlifeyourvoice.org to email.
Teen Line – call/text 1-800-266-7883 for phone or text or navigate to www.teenlineonline.org/talk-now for online chat or message boards
The Trevor Project for LBGTQ Youth – call/text 1-866-488-7386 or navigate to www.thetrevorproject.org for online chat.
Substance Abuse: Individuals experiencing substance use addiction please know that you have options for treatment
Substance use community supports include AA and SMART recovery groups, both of which are being offered over Zoom and in person. Al-Anon is a community support group for the family of an individual with substance addiction. There are multiple options to treat addiction including counseling, groups, residential treatment, and medication-assisted treatment.
To find the appropriate treatment you can call the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline at 800-327-5050, available 24/7 for connection to resources. Please also note that if you do not have insurance there is funding from the Department of Public Health allocated for substance addiction treatment so please do not hesitate to reach out for treatment even if you lack insurance.
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