This year, the state’s efforts to address its inadequate mental health system made progress with expanded facilities and 24/7 assistance programs, but experts say much more work needs to be done to remedy a shortage of psychiatric and behavioral services. 

It kicked off with the launching of the state’s mobile crisis response team for New Hampshire residents who are experiencing immediate behavioral health emergencies. Prior to the helpline’s launch, any mental health emergency was handled by calling the police or waiting at emergency rooms for days or weeks without proper treatment.

Residents can reach the crisis assistance helpline (833-710-6477) by phone, text, or chat 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Beacon Health Options, a private behavioral health company operates it on behalf of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

The crisis response helpline, according to Susan Stearns, executive director of the state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, would be immensely valuable to people, especially during the holiday season when they miss their loved ones.

“It is pretty astonishing to think that New Hampshire has created this incredible crisis response that people can access 24/7,” said Stearns. “I think it shows great promise that we can indeed do these very hard system transformations that will truly save lives.”

In another effort to save lives from suicide, the state passed legislation requiring the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline telephone number to be printed on the back of every New Hampshire student ID card. The bill was passed in memory of Jason Dickey, a 19-year-old who died by suicide in 2017. His mother, Martha Dickey, is now working to have a bill passed that will allow students in public schools to take a “mental health day.” It would allow students to take an excused absence when they struggle with behavioral or mental health conditions.

Aside from legislative wins, 2022 was the year in which the state invested in increasing the number of beds for patients suffering from mental illness and substance abuse. On Wednesday, 33 adults and 9 children were waiting in emergency rooms that were not equipped to provide mental health treatment, according to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services’ tracking tool. Three more adults were waiting in correctional facilities.

Inpatient psychiatric beds have always been limited in New Hampshire, and the pandemic has further exacerbated the situation. But, a relief to the crisis came when the state purchased Hampstead Hospital for $15 million in federal funds. Initially, the hospital served as a pediatric treatment center. The purchase now allows the facility to expand psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment to children and older youth.

This was not the state’s only step toward increasing treatment beds. State health officials proposed in September utilizing $15 million in federal dollars to support SolutionHealth, a private healthcare system in establishing a new behavioral health hospital. If the plan is approved, the facility will have over 100 treatment beds and might open as early as 2024.

In addition, the state is planning to construct a secure facility for 24 people with mental illnesses that will operate alongside New Hampshire Hospital in Concord by 2024, addressing the issue of the unavailability of a facility to treat forensic patients.

“These efforts that are underway are really critical,” said Stearns. “We need to continue supporting them and holding our policymakers accountable for ensuring that they come to fruition as quickly as possible.”

If you need help

Disaster Distress Helpline: Call 1-800-985-5990 for a 24/7 national hotline dedicated to providing crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster.

The Trevor Project: A national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call 1-866-488-7386.

The LGBT National Help Center: Call 1-888-843-4564. Open to callers of all ages. Provides peer counseling, information, and local resources.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Veterans: Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available.

Crisis Text Line: Free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text 741741 from anywhere in the U.S. to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.

Trans Lifeline: Call 1-877-565-8860 for a hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people. Trans Lifeline volunteers are ready to respond to whatever support needs community members might have.

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