Vaccine Safety
Vaccines have saved millions of lives, especially the lives of children, who used to die in great numbers or be seriously debilitated due to many childhood diseases, such as measles and polio. Very few children have reactions from childhood vaccines, and most are minor, such as a mild fever or redness around the area of the vaccination. It is nonetheless very important to track any potential very rare and serious side effects. For this, the CDC has developed the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
VAERS was established in 1990 through a collaborative effort between the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). VAERS allows healthcare providers, vaccine manufacturers, and members of the public to submit reports of adverse events that follow vaccination. Correlation does not automatically prove causation – an event that follows a vaccine may have nothing to do with the vaccine. However, by collecting this information, the CDC and FDA are able to monitor adverse events (AE) and determine if there are any red flags that indicate the need for further research.
Reported AE can range from redness and fatigue to the five serious adverse outcomes that trigger immediate investigation:
- Death
- Life-threatening AE
- Inpatient hospitalization or extension of existing hospitalization
- Persistent or significant incapacity or substantial disruption of the ability to conduct normal life functions
- Congenital anomaly/birth defect
Reports of serious AE are followed up within five days. VAERS investigators generally contact the health facilities (at times the individuals, as well) for more detail related to the report. Often, reports are incomplete, and further information is necessary to carefully analyze the event. Experts will use additional safety systems, such as the CDC’s Vaccine Safety Datalink and Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Project, or the FDA’s Biologics Effectiveness and Safety system and data obtained in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The occurrence of the AE will also be compared with the occurrence of the same condition in people who have not had the vaccine. Deeper analysis will determine if the event occurs more or less often in certain populations, depending on male or female, age, race, location, and frequency or timing of dosage.
Discovery of any risks related to a vaccine in any particular population may lead to a pause or an adjustment in recommendations regarding the administration of the vaccine.
BCHIP is a collaboration between medical facilities and health agencies in Bucks County, and we take our responsibility for your health and well-being very seriously. If you have any concerns about your health or the health of your child following a vaccine, even if the event occurs several weeks following the vaccine, contact your medical health provider immediately. He or she will be able to evaluate you, provide you with any medical help or advice you need, and determine whether or not to report your event to VAERS. You may also report to VAERS yourself, at https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html
If You Live in Bucks County and Do Not Have Health Insurance
There are many reasons why you may not have health insurance. Perhaps you recently lost your job, work part-time, or work at a job that does not provide adequate coverage. Perhaps your spouse, who carried the insurance, died, or you are going through a divorce. Perhaps you simply can’t afford the copay on the employer-provided insurance.
Whatever the reason, you do not need to live without insurance coverage. Bucks County provides many opportunities for you to get the medical help you need.
Pennie Insurance
Pennie is a program sponsored by the PA Department of Human Services, linking Pennsylvanians to various support services throughout the state. Pennie Insurance, PA’s official health insurance marketplace, is available during Open Enrollment, typically between November 1 and January 15 of the following year. You may be able to enroll at other times if you have had a qualifying life event (moved, lost income, etc.) or are at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. Visit their website at pennie.com.
Some of the other services you can find on their website, pennie.com/learn/other-programs, include:
- COMPASS: An online tool to apply for and manage benefit information with many health and human services programs, including Medical Assistance (Medicaid), CHIP, Cash Assistance, Child Care Works Program, SNAP, and more
- Medical Assistance (Medicaid or MA): Offers Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicaid for Former Foster Youth
- Medicare: Federal Health Insurance program for older Americans (or permanent residents) and those who have a qualifying disability or illness
- WIC: Supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children
- SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Mental Health Resources: Includes 988 hotline (A direct suicide prevention service, by phone or text) and other mental health resources
- Local Food Banks
Bucks County HUB
The vision of the Bucks Human Services Connect Hub is for Bucks County residents, their families, and those who support them to be aware of and have access to human services resources in person and virtually through a person-centered, supportive, integrated experience.
Bucks County offers a wide variety of support services, including health care, food assistance, housing, substance abuse, employment, suicide prevention, and other critical needs in our community. Visit their website at buckscounty.gov/1299/find-help.
For a list of hotlines, including suicide prevention, elder abuse, domestic abuse, poison control, veterans crises, Children and Youth After Hours Emergency, and more, visit buckscounty.gov/1363/hotlines-and-crisis-services.
You can also contact the Hub at (215) 348-6201 or thehub@buckscounty.org.
Suicide prevention
If you are feeling emotionally overwhelmed or suicidal, please do not suffer alone! Contact:
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call or text 988 any time, 24/7
- Bucks County Crisis Center at Lenape Valley Foundation: call (800) 499-7455 any time, 24/7 – includes dispatching crisis teams or medical assistance
- National Alliance on Mental Illness: text NAMI to 741741 any time, 24/7 or call the NAMI Bucks County Helpline: 1-866-399-NAMI (6264) from 10am-10pm
Other mental health hotlines available HERE
Substance abuse
- Drug and alcohol addiction services are available to help those in need. If you have a loved one with a drug problem, you can also get Narcan, an over-the-counter opioid overdose treatment that is considered an “opioid antagonist medication” – that is, it reverses the effect of an opioid overdose and can save lives, if administered early enough.
- The Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission (BCDAC) offers many ways to obtain Narcan, which you can find on their website, bcdac.org/resources/naloxone_narcan.php. The website also explains how to obtain Narcan by mail or at a local pharmacy.
- The PA Get Help Now Hotline, staffed by professionals trained in crisis management, is available 24/7, and will provide a warm handoff to the agency or organization that can provide the next step in care. That Hotline number is 1-800-662-4357 (1-800-662-HELP).
- BCHIP offers a free Quit Smoking Program both virtually and in person that has helped thousands of people successfully quit smoking.
Don’t get overwhelmed. There are many services available to help you live your life well in Bucks County. Contact the services you need today.
Violence in the Workplace – Healthcare
Healthcare is one of the most rewarding professions. As a healthcare worker, you help people in their time of greatest need, providing them with the medical care and often the emotional support that they require on their journey toward health and wholeness. However, because patients are in a vulnerable position, emotions can run high, and sometimes physical or verbal attacks can occur. Government data shows healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than other workers.
Millions of people are helped every day in hospitals, therapy centers, doctors’ offices, home health agencies, and other medical facilities across the country. Amid that great volume of need, it is not surprising that some people act badly. Many non-fatal injuries occur from healthcare workplace violence, most of which is perpetrated by the patients themselves. Distraught family or friends can cause a small percentage of those incidents. Common abuses may include pushing, kicking, biting, spitting, or verbal abuse. More serious attacks are very rare, but the risks should be taken very seriously, and any abuse can cause physical and emotional harm to the victim.
BCHIP is partnering with NOVA and the DA’s office to address these issues. A task force is in place in coordination with our partner institutions to study the problem, determine root causes, and implement policies, procedures, and consequences for violence in the workplace.
Some causes or risk factors of workplace violence seem to include:
- The emotional state of the patient, family, and/or friends
- Shortage of staff, causing long waits at healthcare facilities such as emergency rooms
- Overworked inpatient staff, with too many patients per nurse
- Healthcare staff who are not trained in conflict resolution to de-escalate volatile situations
- Environmental factors that cause patient or family frustration: inflexible visiting hours, overcrowding, lack of information, language or cultural barriers
- No clear consequences for patients or family members who engage in physical or verbal abuse
While most patients greatly appreciate the help of healthcare workers, a few unpleasant experiences can cause nurses and other staff to feel vulnerable, demoralized, and overly cautious with other patients, which can have an adverse effect on the quality of care a nurse or healthcare provider offers. It is critically important for nurses and all staff working in medical settings to feel safe and to know that, if violence does occur, those who commit the assault will experience consequences for their behavior.
Possible solutions could include:
- Clearly established policies regarding violence against healthcare workers, including serious consequences that can include pressing charges
- Training in de-escalation and conflict resolution
- A reporting system that documents all incidents of abuse
- A culture of support for victims of abuse and encouragement of thorough reporting
- Sufficient security systems, security personnel, alarms, and emergency response teams
Certainly, one can have compassion for the patient who, in an unhealthy state, reacts with anger or aggression, but compassion cannot justify overlooking the behavior and the harm done to the victim. Even unwell people should be held accountable for their behavior. The goal is to find a balance that ensures that our Bucks County healthcare workers are at all times respected and protected, while they continue to provide the care that patients need.
Data shows that when a measurable, enforceable workplace violence prevention program is in place, the quality of care increases, incidents of violence decrease, and staff is more comfortable and confident. At BCHIP, we are working with our partners, healthcare workers, and other stakeholders to make Bucks County one of the safest counties in the country for healthcare workers and their patients.
Overcoming Inequity in Healthcare
BCHIP is a coalition of Bucks County hospitals, health service organizations, and the Bucks County Department of Health working in collaboration to overcome healthcare inequities in our county and improve overall health in our community.
The causes of inequity in healthcare are many and diverse. They include socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, location, education, health insurance, social isolation, ethnic medical diversity, and community traditions. Institutional disparities also exist, such as location and availability of health services. These are also referred to as social determinants of health. With so many factors causing healthcare inequity, a multipronged approach is needed.
Awareness is the first step to overcoming this problem. Many doctors and medical professionals are unaware of the level of disparity in our community. And many members of the community who receive unequal medical care are unaware of their need for help or they are unwilling to seek out help. Both populations need to be educated so that disparity can be overcome.
Educating healthcare providers
Healthcare providers need to be aware of the data demonstrating disparity so that they are more likely to recognize and combat it. Subconscious and unintended stereotyping or bias can contribute to healthcare disparity, which providers need help to recognize and overcome.
Sometimes a patient may refuse necessary treatment. A medical provider should ask appropriate questions to determine the reason for the refusal, which could be due to a lack of healthcare insurance, a fear of losing time off from work, a poor understanding of the seriousness of the condition, or a general suspicion of medical care. With knowledge of the reasons, the provider can help the patient overcome these concerns.
Thorough intake questionnaires should include all known disparity risks and social determinants of health. Training in proper evaluation of these questionnaires will help healthcare providers notice red flags warning of increased risk of health disparity and take necessary steps to overcome them before serious illnesses develop, such as these sobering statistics:
- Stroke risk is 50% higher among individuals with three or more known disparity risks, even after adjusting for stroke risk factors
- The infant mortality rate for college-educated black women is higher than that of white women with similar education
- African American children are hospitalized for asthma at a rate 4-5 times greater than white children
In addition, the percentage of uninsured Americans varies by race:
- 36% Latinos
- 33% Native Americans
- 22% African Americans
- 17% Asian and Pacific Islanders
- 13% Whites
Uninsured adults are less likely to visit a doctor, less likely to have a private physician, and less likely to engage in necessary medical treatment.
Educating the public
It’s important to raise public awareness of these disparities, especially among the underserved. Education should include linguistically and culturally sensitive information; education in healthier lifestyle options; awareness of medical resources; and awareness of agencies and organizations that provide financial and other types of support for medical needs.
Developing outreach in partnership with community stakeholders will help us ensure that our message reaches the most vulnerable populations.
Providing more access to healthcare
The BCHIP partnership is looking at ways to make healthcare more easily accessible to underserved communities by providing more clinic access and more medical practitioners in their areas. Increasing the number of minority medical providers is also an important part of the outreach strategy. Convenient access to both physical and mental health services is being evaluated to ensure that no one in Bucks County is without the help he or she needs.
Healthcare and Human Services in Bucks County
If you or someone you love needs help, there are many resources in Bucks County to turn to. BCHIP was established to address and fill gaps in services so that everyone in Bucks County would have access to quality healthcare and basic needs through our founding members and community partners.
We work in association with the Bucks County Department of Health, the Bucks County Medical Society, and the six major Bucks County hospitals: Doylestown Health, Grand View Health, Jefferson Bucks Hospital, Lower Bucks Hospital, St. Luke’s University Upper Bucks Campus, and St. Mary Medical Center.
Our many community partners include organizations that provide a wide variety of services, including:
- women’s shelters
- mental health services
- foster care programs
- drug rehabilitation
- suicide prevention
- Alzheimer’s and dementia support
- hunger and nutrition services
- senior living centers
- housing services
Whatever your needs, our network can help.
Drug and alcohol addiction services
- One of our partners is the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission (BCDAC). The mission of the BCDAC is to reduce the use of tobacco, eliminate the use of illegal drugs, and end the abuse of, misuse of, and addiction to alcohol and other drugs throughout Bucks County. To fulfill its mission, the BCDAC employs a multi-dimensional approach incorporating, prevention, treatment, and recovery services to help people break free of substance abuse and prevent further abuse.
- The PA Get Help Now Hotline, staffed by professionals trained in crisis management, is available 24/7, and will provide a warm handoff to the agency or organization that can provide the next step in care. That Hotline number is 1-800-662-4357 (1-800-662-HELP).
- Narcan (generic name naloxone HCI) is an over-the-counter opioid overdose treatment that is considered an “opioid antagonistic medication” – that is, it reverses the effect of an opioid overdose and can save lives, if administered early enough. BCDAC offers many different ways to obtain Narcan, which you can find on their website, bcdac.org/resources/naloxone_narcan.php. The website also explains how to obtain Narcan by mail or at a local pharmacy.
- BCDAC, BCHIP, and the Bucks County DA’s office work together to provide Take Back Days several times a year to collect pharmaceuticals, sharps, vaping equipment, and other drugs and devices that could fall into the wrong hands and lead to drug abuse problems.
- BCHIP offers a free Quit Smoking Program both virtually and in person that has helped thousands of people successfully quit smoking.
- For a gambling problem, contact the Gambling Helpline. Call 1-800-848-1880 (1-800-GAMBLER) 24/7 to speak with someone to get the help you may need. For more information on gambling help, click here.
There are many other services offered by BCHIP, BCDAC, and our other partners to help with addiction. Call our office at 267-291-7882 with any questions.
Mental health services
NAMI Bucks County was started in 1983 by a mother who felt like she had no support when her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Over time, this local organization, originally called “Families United for Mental Health,” led the way for a nationwide organization called the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).
NAMI offers a wide variety of services for families, individuals, the community, and local mental health providers, including support groups, youth programs, and support for many needs associated with mental health issues: housing, homelessness, food services, substance abuse, medical care, and legal representation.
Numbers to call when in crisis:
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 any time, 24/7
- Bucks County Crisis Center at Lenape Valley Foundation: 1-800-499-7455 any time, 24/7 – includes dispatching crisis teams or medical assistance
- Text NAMI to 741741 any time, 24/7
- NAMI Bucks County Helpline: 1-866-399-NAMI (6264) from 10am-10pm
You don’t have to suffer alone. Help is available.
Housing and human services
No one in Bucks County should ever go hungry or have to live on the streets. We have many services available through a broad network throughout the county. The quickest and easiest way to get the help you need is through the website findhelp.org. Simply enter your zip code and choose from the many services available: food, housing, goods, transit, health, money, care, education, work, legal. Whatever your needs, we can help you.
Other BCHIP initiatives
BCHIP reaches out to our neighbors in Bucks County in so many ways. Our Long Term Care Partnership covers nursing homes, personal care facilities, rehab centers, and respite and hospice agencies. In a spirit of cooperation, we work together to make sure our Bucks County senior citizens and injured or ill patients have the right resources to receive the best of care.
The Bucks County Immunization Coalition works to ensure that vulnerable populations are able to access vaccines. Our Family Planning Navigation Service Program provides navigation services (scheduling and transportation) for services such as UTI treatment, birth control, pregnancy testing, STI and HIV tests, and cancer screenings.
BCHIP also provides Advance Care Planning services to help people be prepared in case a sudden accident or illness leaves them unable to speak for themselves about their medical care wishes. We provide a worksheet and counseling, which are both available on our website.
If you aren’t sure where to start to find help, contact our Newtown office at (267) 291-7882. If you are in crisis or need immediate help, please call one of the hotlines listed above. At BCHIP, we care about you and want to help you.
Healthcare Professional and Staffing Needs in Bucks County PA
It’s no secret that there is a nationwide shortage of medical health professionals. The nursing shortage is the highest profile, but so many other staffing and medical experts are needed to provide the very best level of care. Now may be a great time to try out a new career where you can make a difference in Bucks County.
Becoming a doctor, a nurse, or a therapist is a very important calling and takes many years of training. Doctors and nurses can then specialize in many different areas. Therapists can specialize in physical, occupational, or behavioral therapy, art or music therapy, cognitive therapy, speech therapy, and more.
However, many other medical professional careers require much less training, provide a substantial income, and offer the satisfaction of helping those in need. Some require an associate’s degree, others require a training program and/or certification program. These include:
- Medical assistant / Nursing assistant
- Phlebotomist
- Surgical technologist
- Ultrasound technician
- Assisted living caregiver
- Home health aide
- Medical equipment technician
- Dental assistant
- Sonographer
- Occupational or physical therapy aide
- Paramedic/EMT
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Massage therapist
- Pharmacy technician
Additional support staff that are indispensable to the medical field include:
- Medical scribe
- Medical coder
- Medical transcriptionist
- Medical biller
- Various office workers
These lists are not exhaustive. Dedicated medical employees and staff are in high demand in Bucks County, because of its many hospitals, long-term care communities, outpatient centers, rehab centers, and medical offices, providing tremendous opportunities for those in the market for a rewarding career.
At the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP), we are dedicated to improving health and enhancing lives in Bucks County. The major healthcare organizations in the county have joined together to address gaps in healthcare services in order to provide all Bucks County residents with the very best care. To do that, we need to be well-staffed with smart, talented medical professionals and support staff.
We all have loved ones who have been helped by someone in the medical field. You may even have a story about that special person – maybe a therapist, nurse’s aide, or patient assistant– who made your mother, your spouse, or yourself feel like everything’s going to be all right. If you would like to be that person for someone else, consider a career in the medical field and help us make Bucks County a county providing the best healthcare in the region.
Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission
The mission of the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission (BCDAC) is to reduce the use of tobacco, eliminate the use of illegal drugs, and end the abuse, misuse of, and addiction to alcohol and other drugs throughout Bucks County. To fulfill their mission, BCDAC employs a multi-dimensional approach incorporating, prevention, treatment, and recovery services to help people break free of substance abuse and prevent further abuse.
BCDAC services
BCDAC reaches out through agencies, hospitals, schools, prisons, and community organizations to provide its broad services, collaborating and networking with other organizations throughout the county, including BCHIP. Below is a list of just some of BCDAC’s programs.
- BCDAC partners with the PA Get Help Now hotline, which is staffed by professionals trained in crisis management, is available 24/7, and will provide a warm handoff to the agency or organization that can provide the next step in care.
- A wide variety of substance abuse prevention programs are implemented in schools and community settings throughout the county.
- Medication Take Back Days keep used pharmaceuticals and sharps out of circulation to prevent abuse; the Up and Away Program stresses proper storage of medications to keep them out of the hands of children.
- BCDAC provides Narcan to first responders, schools, and community members as a first line of defense for a suspected opioid overdose. If you have a loved one with a history of substance abuse, having Narcan available may save your loved one’s life. BCDAC also provides community Narcan use training sessions.
- Research indicates that 65% of the prison population has substance abuse disorder (SUD) and another 20% were under the influence at the time of their crime. BCDAC provides a variety of programs to incarcerated people in order to break the cycle and help them avoid a return to addiction and prison.
- BCDAC provides community education in the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which is the damage to the brain of unborn babies that can occur when pregnant women drink heavily.
- The Vaping Prevention Campaign educates both young people and adults about the dangers of this unhealthy addiction.
- BCDAC supports the work of The Council of Compulsive Gambling of PA in providing help to those who have or suspect a gambling problem.
Getting help for yourself or a loved one
Visit the BCDAC website for a complete list of their services. Below is a short list of contact information for immediate help.
- PA Get Help NOW Hotline: 1-800-662-4357 (1-800-662-HELP), available 24/7.
- Call BCDAC at 215-444-2700 for resources and information, M-F 8:30am-4:30pm.
- Narcan is distributed at various locations throughout the county or it can be ordered online; click here to learn more ways to procure Narcan and receive training.
- Gambling Helpline: Call 1-800-848-1880 (1-800-GAMBLER) 24/7 to speak with someone to get the help you may need. For more information on gambling help, click here.
Sharps Disposal in Bucks County
The term “sharps” defines devices that have sharp points or edges that can puncture the skin. These can include needles and syringes, lancets (i.e., for pricking the finger), auto-injectors such as the EpiPen, and infusion sets and connection needles, which are used to deliver fluids into the body, such as in patients on home hemodialysis.
Many people in Bucks County have medical conditions that require the use of sharps, and disposal of these potentially dangerous medical devices has been a concern for a long time, as they pose a risk of injury and spread of disease. Many sharps end up in landfills, on the streets, or flushed into the sewer system. But recently, Bucks County has taken important steps to provide a safe means of disposing of sharps.
Collecting sharps
Through a collaboration between the Bucks County District Attorney’s office, BCHIP, the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, and local hospitals, Bucks County has recently placed collection boxes for used and unwanted sharps at five area hospitals.
The first five hospitals to set up these collection boxes are Doylestown Hospital, Grand View Hospital, Jefferson Bucks Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital in Quakertown, and St. Mary Medical Center. Dropoffs at the collection boxes can be made anonymously, 24/7.
Safe disposal
In order to protect others from harm, sharps should never be thrown loosely into the collection boxes. They need to be properly contained in a strong, plastic container. FDA-cleared sharps disposal containers are available in a variety of sizes and designs. You can also use a plastic bottle like the ones that Powerade and Gatorade come in.
If you do not have easy access to an official sharps collection container, you can create your own using a strong plastic container such as a used (and washed) laundry detergent or bleach bottle. The container should be able to stand upright so that you can easily deposit the sharp after use and it must have a sturdy, puncture-resistant lid. When it is about three-quarters full, put on the lid and seal it with masking tape, clearly label the container “Sharps – Do Not Recycle” in bold letters, preferably with a permanent marker, and take it to a collection box.
The benefit to the community
Proper disposal of sharps protects the community from the spread of diseases from contaminated blood and bodily fluids. It also decreases the risk of drug misuse, as needles are less readily available. When someone struggling with substance us disorder lives with someone who needs sharps for medical purposes, unused sharps should be safely stored, and used sharps should be disposed of quickly.
The collection boxes are a response to a community need. While the county has been sponsoring drug take-back events twice a year since 2010, Bucks County added sharps collection in several limited locations in 2022 and collected a surprising 1,000 pounds of sharps. This indicated a real interest in the community for a safe means of disposing of these devices.
The sharps collection boxes initiative is just one more way that BCHIP is partnering with other organizations in the county to make Bucks County a safer, healthier place to live.
New Mental Health Hotline 988 – Call Before the Crisis
If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, including suicidal thoughts, substance use, or another mental health issue, help is only three digits away – dial 988 and a trained crisis contact person will be ready to talk and connect you with help in your area if needed. People can also text to receive help, all from their Bucks County, PA home.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) is a network of more than 200 state and local call centers supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The 988 service provides 24/7 access to trained professionals who can talk people through their crises and will warm-transfer the person to emergency services or a mobile crisis service. Warm transfer means they won’t tell you to “call this number.” They will make the connection for you and introduce you to the next resource so you will be able to speak with someone here in Bucks County, PA, or wherever the closest service is to your location, to get the help you need.
In mid-summer of 2022, the 988 number was launched to replace the old hotline, 1-800-273-TALK, which had been in existence for 20 years. This number still works, but the hope is that by changing to an easy-to-remember number, closely related to the well-known 911 emergency number, more people will use the service and will get the help they need quickly.
It seems to be working, because in the first month alone, July 2022, call centers saw a 50% increase in use. Furthermore, studies have indicated that after receiving help through the 988 Lifeline, most people are significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful. This is very good news.
However mental health emergencies are not the only crises people experience, and often mental health problems are closely connected with other life crises. On the convenient website findhelp.org, you can enter your zip code to find additional help near you for needs such as:
- Food – emergency food, help paying for food
- Housing – finding shelter, help with repairs, advice
- Goods – clothing, home goods, child and baby products, toys
- Transit – public transportation costs or help with buying a vehicle
- Health – medical, dental, vision, reproductive, help paying bills
- Finances – learning about budgeting and finance, getting a loan, insurance, tax prep
- Care – daycare, elder care, safety, community support
- Education – building skills, further education, preschool, tests
- Work – finding work, work expenses, worker rights
- Legal – mediation, representation, translation & interpretation
No one needs to walk alone when struggling through a life crisis. Be sure to reach out to the mental health Lifeline 988 or visit www.findhelp.org to get the help you need so you can put yourself back on your feet and provide a brighter future for yourself.
NAMI Bucks County – Local Support from the National Alliance for Mental Illness
NAMI Bucks County PA was founded 40 years ago in 1983 by a mother whose son was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 12. This mother did not have the support she needed to help her son, discuss the best treatment for him, and deal with the emotions she was experiencing. She didn’t want other parents and families to be left without the support they needed in a time of crisis. Beginning with a small group called “Families Unite for Mental Health,” the organization has since blossomed into NAMI Bucks County and has become a major source of help and support for people who are dealing with mental health issues and their families.
What NAMI Bucks County offers
NAMI Bucks County offers a variety of services to families, individuals, the community, and local mental health providers. NAMI Bucks County offers a hotline for those in distress, along with support groups for specific needs, youth programs, and education programs. They also recognize the specific needs of veterans and frontline workers.
Besides providing resources for mental health issues, NAMI can also direct you to support for other needs, such as housing, food services, homelessness, inpatient care, substance abuse, and legal representation.
NAMI Bucks County helps people through the process of recovery. Recovery from mental disorders and substance abuse disorders is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, find purpose and meaning, and build community relationships to live full and healthy lives.
Getting help
NAMI Bucks County offers a variety of ways to get help, and there are also national services to help you in crisis.
If you are in crisis:
- Call the NAMI Bucks County Helpline: 1-866-399-NAMI (6264), option 2, from 9am-9pm for information and referrals
- Call the NAMI Bucks County Emotional Support WarmLine: 1-866-399-NAMI (6264), option 1, from 3pm-10pm for one-on-one peer support
- Text NAMI to 741741 any time, 24/7
- Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 any time, 24/7
- Call the Bucks County Crisis Center at Lenape Valley Foundation: 1-800-499-7455 any time, 24/7. Their services include dispatching crisis teams and medical assistance.
If you are not in crisis but need help, NAMI Bucks County offers a Warmline, 215-343-3055 from 3pm-10pm. Staff providing the services on the Warmline have been through a similar journey and are trained to provide an empathetic, listening ear and offer resources when requested. Using a strengths-based model, Warmline responders help callers feel empowered with the tools to make the necessary changes in their lives or reach the help that they need in a non-crisis situation.
All NAMI services are free. If you are in need, reach out to NAMI Bucks County by one of the above means or by visiting their website, namibuckspa.org, for a complete listing of their services.
