Louisville crisis line takes on statewide responsibility

Seven Counties Services’ Hope Now Hotline, the region’s leading crisis resource, is expanding its coverage. Thanks to a recent $50,000 contract with the KY Department of Mental Health and Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Hope Now Hotline’s counselors are now answering the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Treatment Information and Referral line for callers from throughout the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky. Similar to the current Lifeline Services for callers with suicidal thoughts, callers to the SAMHSA line dial a toll-free number and are routed to the nearest call center to help in their pursuit for treatment, whether for mental illness or substance abuse.

According to Scott Been, the Hope Now Hotline’s Director, Seven Counties’ expertise in crisis and intervention work and previous experience with after-hours statewide coverage for the Abuse Hotline led to the department’s decision to contract with Seven Counties. Mr. Been says, “We are happy to take on this responsibility and help even more individuals in our state find the solutions and treatments they need to recover from addictions and mental illnesses.”

The Hope Now Hotline, formerly the Crisis and Information Center, handles about 5,000 calls each month, talking people through crisis to positive outcomes and referring many to community services and resources that help them achieve recovery. The hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. The hotline’s Louisville number is 589-4313. The toll-free number is 800-221-0446. The Hope Now Hotline, a service of Seven Counties Services, Inc., is supported in part by Metro United Way and Louisville Metro Government.