A new 24/7 mental health crisis support line is now available in Oakland County and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – and it’s just the first step of a larger plan to roll out improved mental health crisis services across the state.
The new Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) provides phone, chat, and text support for Oakland County and U.P. residents experiencing mental health or substance abuse crises. A statewide, regional rollout is planned by fall of 2022. Trained crisis specialists serve as mental health first responders, answering calls or texts to 844-44MICAL (844-446-4225) and chats via MiCAL’s website.
“[MiCAL] is a coordinated crisis system for all Michiganders, regardless of the severity of issues or payment type,” says Krista Hausermann, strategic initiative specialist at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Administration. “The federal government encouraged us to set up a crisis service for everyone that coordinates with other behavioral health services in the state. MiCAL is the first component that we are developing as part of a coordinated crisis system – a public good, like fire departments or the police, for everyone in the state.”
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