© 2024 Red River Radio
Voice of the Community
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Arkansas DHS Rolls Out New Crisis Helpline

Courtesy: Chuck Smith / Red River Radio News

ARK HELPLINE -  Arkansas  Gov. Asa Hutchinson says state leaders  are  expanding access to mental health services for those in need of drug-addiction counseling. During his recent radio address, Hutchinson announced a new resource to for Arkansans facing a crisis to reach out for assistance,  it’s a Crisis Helpline to be run by the Department of Human Services.

"The helpline complements Arkansas’s system of Crisis Stabilization Units, which offers a person in the midst of a mental-health crisis the option of 

Credit Courtesy: Ark Public Media
/
Courtesy: Ark Public Media
CRISIS STABILIZATION CENTERS - Several CSU's have opened across the state to handle crisis situations involving drugs or mental illness.

immediate treatment rather than a trip to jail," explained Hutchinson. "Arrest isn’t always the best option for a person who is suffering a mental-health crisis."

Several Crisis Stabilization Units have opened across the state.  Hutchinson said staff members at the CSUs are trained to assess the needs of those in crisis, provide immediate aid, and then guide them to the appropriate help.  Under Hutchinson’s administration -- Arkansas’ Medicaid Expansion in 2017 –has increased the number of drug addiction counselors from 31 to 207,  a 567 percent increase.  Additionally, the number of behavioral health sites in the state has increased  to 311.

Credit Courtesy: Ark Dept of Human Services
/
Courtesy: Ark Dept of Human Services

The new DHS helpline is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Governor says they will look into expanding hours of operation in the future.
The new Arkansas  Crisis Helpline number is 1-844-763-0198

 

 

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.