UAMS Health offers free, virtual mental health program
LITTLE ROCK — In the face of the growing mental health crisis among teens and young adults, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences offers UAMS Health AR Connectnow, a free, virtual mental health program for Arkansans of all ages, according to a news release.
Anyone can get help immediately by calling 501-526-3563. Insurance and referrals are not required, the release said.
“UAMS AR Connectnow is a comprehensive behavioral health treatment program created to provide care to all Arkansans dealing with a variety of mental health issues, including substance abuse disorders and such mental illnesses as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. UAMS AR Connectnow is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for initial telephone contact with a triage nurse, who can help schedule services with licensed therapists,” the release said.
“While UAMS AR Connectnow is available for anyone to use, we’re actively encouraging parents, teachers and school counselors across the state to share this resource with teenagers and young adults to ensure they have access to the help they need, exactly when they need it,” Dr. Laura Dunn, director of the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute and chair of the Department of Psychiatry in the College of Medicine, said in the release.
“Taking immediate action to support our young people and their mental health has never been more critical,” Dunn said.
“If someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, it is so important they receive immediate assistance,” Victoria Spradley, UAMS outreach coordinator for UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute, said in the release.
“UAMS AR Connectnow allows us to offer that assistance to all Arkansans, especially our youth,” Spradley said in the release.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than onethird of high school students in the U.S. experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, a 40 percent increase since 2009.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness revealed that 35,000 Arkansans aged 12 to 17 have experienced depression in the last year. Tools like UAMS AR Connectnow provide a no-cost, immediately available resource for those seeking help anonymously, the release said.
For answers to frequently asked questions, visit faceyourfeelings.org or schedule an appointment by calling 501-526-3563 or 800-482-9921.
“Formed in part by a grant from the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, UAMS AR Connectnow is a partnership between UAMS and the Arkansas Department of Human Services’ Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services. The Blue & You Foundation has also contributed staff and equipment to the effort,” the release said.