P O L I T IG CO S V&E R GN OM V EE RNNT M E N T
I
New Mental Health Service Available to Floridians
Cass is the newest addition to the behavioral health n December, Secretary Shevaun Harris announced that resources that have launched to assist individuals and famthe Department of Children and Families has launched a ilies impacted by Hurricane Ian. The Department, in collabnew behavioral health resource that is available to Floridoration with First Lady Casey DeSantis previously launched ians statewide. The Department has partnered with Cass to the Family Support Line to connect Hurricane Michael suroffer on-demand mental and behavioral health support. Develvivors with families impacted by Hurricane Ian. Individuals oped by mental health experts, Cass uses Artificial Intelligence who would like to talk with a Family Support Peer can call technology to deliver emotional support 24 hours a day, seven 888-850-SWFL. Also launched to assist following Hurridays a week though text messaging. cane Ian is the First Responder Support Line 407-823-1657. Anyone seeking support can text the message "Hi" to 1-833This tool combines current resources into a single point of 365-CHAT (2428). Floridians can chat with Cass for emotional contact that will connect first responders with behavioral support at any time and learn tools to build resilience and Secretary Shevaun Harris health professionals. self-awareness. Cass follows up with reminders and check-ins The Florida Department of Health has partnered with BetterHelp to to reinforce use of skills learned in previous conversations and promote long-term resiliency. The text messages are available in English and Spanish. offer mental health services through three months of free online therapy "I am thankful for Governor DeSantis' commitment to prioritizing the to those impacted by Hurricane Ian. To access these free services, Floridavailability of resources to aid in all aspects of Hurricane Ian recovery," said ians can visit betterhelp.com/voucher and use code: HurricaneIan. BetterHelp will then prompt impacted Floridians with a questionnaire to best Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris. "Individuals impacted by Hurricane Ian may experience the emotional match them with a licensed mental health professional. To access all resources available from the Department, visit impacts at any point in the day. We are excited to launch this new resource MyFLFamilies.com/HurricaneIan. which makes getting support easily accessible day or night."
44 ONYX MAGAZINE
