When you don’t know where to turn: Crisis help is closer than you think

Many people don’t know where to turn in a crisis, whether they’re living with a mental health condition, overwhelmed by stress or grief, or afraid in their own home.

If you need help now, you can call, text or chat with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7. It’s free, confidential and available in English and Spanish. Just call or text 9-8-8, or go to 988lifeline. org.

Need help meeting basic needs?

Call 2-1-1 to connect with 2-1-1 Connects Alabama, your hub for food assistance, housing, transportation, health services and more. In mental health terms, a crisis doesn’t always mean a suicide attempt or violent outburst. It can include overwhelming anxiety or depression, emotional trauma, substance use struggles or any moment when someone feels unable to cope safely or function day to day.

Crisis centers provide a calm, supportive place to stabilize and connect to care before things escalate further. A new network of crisis centers in Alabama is trying to get the word out, and members of the GFWC Alabama Book Lovers Study Club are helping share that message.

As part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) Alabama president’s project for 2024–2026, “Mental Health Matters,” clubwomen across the state have stepped up to support mental health awareness through fundraisers, events and outreach efforts.

“Mental Health Matters” is more than a slogan. It’s a call to show up with open minds and open hearts for the people around us and for ourselves.

Mental illness continues to affect our communities in significant ways. More than one in five adults in the U.S. live with anxiety, depression or another mental health condition. Many also face substance use disorders.

We can help by reducing the stigma and encouraging people to seek treatment and support.

To support that effort, GFWC Alabama President Becky Vansant and Christi Robinson of WellStone Inc. organized a virtual presentation featuring Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell.

Boswell outlined Alabama’s growing network of crisis centers. These centers provide immediate care for people experiencing a mental health condition, substance use issues, or suicidal crisis. They also help ease the burden on jails and emergency rooms by offering specialized care in a more appropriate setting.

WellStone in Huntsville, the JBS Mental Health Authority Training Center in Birmingham and Altapointe-East Point Hospital in Daphne each hosted a viewing of the presentation. Attendees at each site gathered for lunch and to learn more about how these centers serve people in their communities.

I attended the Huntsville session at WellStone, along with fellow Book Lovers members Gayle McAlister, Patricia Cox and Lynn Suddith. We came away with a deeper understanding of the needs these centers meet and the people they help.

Christi Robinson, who chairs the Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs (AFWC) mental health special project, led the session with help from her assistant, Maggie Robinson.

They guided the presentation and explained that WellStone answers 988 calls made in North Alabama. When someone in the region calls, texts or chats with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, they’re connected to a trained counselor at WellStone, who can offer support and help connect them with local care.

Right now, Alabama operates six crisis centers and plans to open a seventh soon. The state also offers mobile crisis teams and other rapid-response services designed to support people in urgent need.

Each center tailors its approach to fit the community it serves. Many rely on nonprofit support, professional staff, and trained volunteers.

During the Q&A session, WellStone CEO Jeremy Blair shared that one of their biggest challenges is making sure people know help is available. He said they need more referrals and more awareness of the services WellStone offers.

Crisis doesn’t wait for convenience, and silence can cost lives. Now is the time to talk, to learn, to listen, and to make sure no one faces their hardest moments alone.