First Choice Services is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Help4WV, West Virginia’s 24/7 helpline for mental health and substance use treatment. Since opening in 2015, Help4WV has connected individuals and families to treatment and support through more than 25,000 calls annually.
“Help4WV is unique among state helplines because it is not just a database or referral line,” said Salwa Amin, Program Director. “We have specialists available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, who do more than provide information. They work directly with callers to help get them into treatment.” She explained that most helpline staff are in long-term recovery, which gives them a passion for helping callers and allows them to answer questions about treatment options with firsthand understanding.
Amin added, “We can usually connect callers to treatment within one day, and we can help with barriers such as lack of insurance or transportation.” She also noted that while many callers reach out for themselves, about 30 percent of calls come from family members or community partners seeking information on treatment resources.
Help4WV was created in 2015 to address West Virginia’s urgent need for accessible treatment resources. Currently, about 70 percent of callers are seeking addiction treatment, with the remainder reaching out for emotional support or mental health referrals.
For more information about Help4WV or to get connected to treatment, call 1-844-HELP4WV or visit www.help4wv.com
