Dear Friends,

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, during which I hope you can take some time to check in on yourself and your loved ones. Here in Southwest Connecticut, we are fortunate to have abundant resources dedicated to caring for residents’ mental health. Read on to learn more about the work being done in our community to expand access to mental health care.

School-based care

In recent years, we’ve become acutely aware of the urgent need for more comprehensive health support for young people in our schools. That’s why I was thrilled to help deliver to Norwalk Public Schools first-of-its-kind funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to expand mental health services for students.

In partnership with Norwalk Community Health Center, school-based health and wellness centers at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy and Brien McMahon High School offer physicals and immunizations along with counseling crisis intervention services for our students. The centers are staffed throughout the school day with licensed physical and mental health care professionals who work with students’ primary care physicians to prioritize our children’s health. 

Launching the new on-site health center at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy.

Law Enforcement Mental Health Collaboration

I was proud to join local law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community health organizations for a fruitful roundtable discussion about best practices for addressing mental health crises in our community. It was enlightening to hear about the efforts undertaken by the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery, the Center for Family Justice, and the Recovery Network of Programs. These groups assist community members who are suffering from addiction and work tirelessly to destigmatize alcoholism and other substance use disorders.

Right here in Southwest Connecticut, the Stamford and Norwalk Police Departments are pioneering a model to prioritize public health and mental wellness in law enforcement response. In 2020, the Stamford Police Department launched the first-ever public/private partnership for mental health emergency response in Connecticut. The Police Mental Health Collaboration initiative embeds a social worker within the police force who assists officers on-scene, conducts mental health assessments, and connects individuals to community resources for aftercare treatment. The Norwalk Police Department, emulating Stamford’s model, also added trained social workers to its staff in 2021.

Joining local law enforcement and mental health professionals for a roundtable discussion.

I’m grateful that Southwest Connecticut is confronting our country’s mental health crisis head-on and innovating effective ways to aid community members in distress.

988

The 988 Lifeline is a free, confidential national network of crisis centers staffed by certified professionals who are standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support people in distress. In 2020, I was proud to help those in need access critical care by passing legislation to designate the 988 dialing code to operate through the existing 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 help and support.

Thank you for taking mental health seriously. To let me know your thoughts on legislation or seek help with a federal agency, call my office at (203) 333-6600. Don’t miss important updates from me by signing up for my newsletter if you haven’t already.

Sincerely,

Jim