The blizzard forecast for Friday evening through Saturday in southeastern Massachusetts and much of the East Coast has canceled local COVID-19 vaccine clinics this weekend.

The vaccine clinic provided by Seven Hills Behavioral Health at the Andrea McCoy Recreation Center at 181 Hillman St. has been canceled for Saturday, Jan. 29, and the clinic at the Workers Community Center / Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores, 1534 Acushnet Ave., has been canceled for Sunday, Jan. 30.

Testing could resume at Andrea McCoy on Monday, Jan. 31, if conditions allow. The Workers Community Center clinic has been rescheduled for Sunday, Feb. 6.

Free, walk-up COVID-19 clinics in New Bedford offer CDC-approved booster shots, in addition to first- and second-dose vaccines and, at most locations, pediatric vaccines and boosters for teens 12-17. Please bring your vaccination card when getting a booster.

Visit vaxnb.com for updated schedules of local COVID-19 vaccination and testing locations. Upcoming vaccine locations in New Bedford include:

Monday, Jan. 31 (if conditions allow):
Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Tuesday, Feb. 1:
Greater New Bedford Community Health Center (874 Purchase St.) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, appointment required, call 508-992-6553

Thursday, Feb. 3:
Greater New Bedford Community Health Center (874 Purchase St.) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, appointment required, call 508-992-6553
Casimir Pulaski Elementary School (1097 Braley Road.) – 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Friday, Feb. 4:
PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, w/ pediatric vaccines for children 5 – 11 years old & boosters for teens 12-17

Saturday, Feb. 5:
Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Sunday, Feb. 6:
Workers Community Center / Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores (1534 Acushnet Ave.) – 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J & J, boosters, pediatric vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17
Keith Middle School (225 Hathaway Boulevard) – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Reminder on the importance of vaccinations, especially during winter months: Vaccination levels in the region remain low, and daily case rates remain high. Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is not only about protecting yourself – it’s also about protecting your family, friends, and community. Vaccination is critically important during the winter months, when indoor gatherings can lead to super-spreader events, clusters, hospitalizations, and severe illness among people who are unvaccinated.

State Resources for Vaccine Records, Locations
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has free online services to find your personal vaccine records and local vaccination locations, including many pharmacies.
Access your vaccine records at https://myvaxrecords.mass.gov/, and find local listings at https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/.

Southcoast Health announced today its Urgent Care Center locations in Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Lakeville, Seekonk, Wareham and Middletown, Rhode Island have been reaccredited by the Urgent Care Association and received the Accredited Urgent Care designation.

“This accomplishment represents Southcoast’s commitment to providing high-quality care to patients in our community,” says Tonya Johnson, DNP RN NEA-BC, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Southcoast Hospitals Group. “Being recognized as an Accredited Urgent Care Center demonstrates that our urgent care locations meet and exceed an exceptional standard of care. We are so grateful for the amazing frontline staff who continuously put our community first.”

Accreditation is the highest level of distinction that can be earned from the Urgent Care Association. The reaccreditation process is very thorough and must be completed every 36 months. It includes site visits, patient visit observations and policy reviews.

“It was a true team effort to achieve this re-accreditation,” says Kelly Houde, Practice Administrator for Urgent Care Centers at Southcoast Health. “Especially as our staff continues to step up in unbelievable ways during these very difficult and trying times with COVID.”

Adding significance to this achievement, The Southcoast Health Urgent Care Centers continue to play an instrumental role in Southcoast’s COVID response, providing essential support to hospitals and the community. “From testing to treating patients that are experiencing COVID symptoms, the urgent care team continuously steps up to care for patients who do not need to go to the emergency room,” says Johnson.

Urgent Care Centers provide the community with immediate, non-emergency care, including treatment for illnesses and minor injuries such as burns, fractures and sprains. These locations are open to all patients in the community, including those who do not have a Southcoast Health primary care provider, with walk-in availability close to home.

Further emphasizing the exceptional standard of care, Southcoast Health Urgent Care Centers are backed by the specialty services and resources of Southcoast Health. Equipped with advanced diagnostic tools and resources, all seven urgent care centers offer comprehensive care with the ability to refer patients to a specialist if needed.

For added convenience, patients seeking services at Southcoast Health Urgent Care centers can wait in the comfort of their own home until it’s their turn to be seen through the online check-in system. Visitors can find the closest center, its current wait time and even save a spot in line before arriving.

To learn more about Southcoast Health’s Urgent Care Centers, please visit: Urgent Care MA & RI | Find Your Nearest Urgent Care | Southcoast Health

With the city averaging 365 new cases of COVID-19 per day over the past two weeks and the test positivity rate at 29.9 percent, booster shots remain critical, along with vaccines, masks, and social distancing. More than 55 percent of New Bedford residents are fully vaccinated, but only 19.5 percent of residents have received a booster, well below the statewide booster rate of more than 46 percent.

Boosters are critically important for eligible people – those who completed their vaccinations two months ago, for Johnson & Johnson; five months ago, for Pfizer; and six months ago, for Moderna – as immunity from vaccines can wane. Booster shots can reduce risks of hospitalization and severe illness, and are particularly important given the omicron variant, which may be more likely to evade immune responses.

While Pfizer boosters have been approved for teens 12 and older, younger age groups in New Bedford have the lowest rates of booster shots. Less than 10 percent of residents 12 to 29 years old have received a booster, and just 14 percent of residents 30 to 49 years old. More than 46 percent of residents 75 and older and 47 percent of residents 65 to 74, however, have received the vital support to initial vaccines, according to state data.

Free, walk-up COVID-19 clinics in New Bedford offer CDC-approved booster shots, in addition to first- and second-dose vaccines and, at most locations, pediatric vaccines and boosters for teens 12-17. Please bring your vaccination card when getting a booster.

Visit vaxnb.com for updated schedules of local COVID-19 vaccination and testing locations. Upcoming vaccine locations in New Bedford include:

Saturday, Jan. 22:
Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Sunday, Jan. 23:
Workers Community Center / Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores (1534 Acushnet Ave.) – 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J & J, boosters, pediatric vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Monday, Jan. 24:
Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Wednesday, Jan. 26:
Cape Verdean Veterans Memorial Hall (561 Purchase St.), – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Thursday, Jan. 27:
William Taylor Elementary School (71 Portland St.) – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Friday, Jan. 28:
PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, w/ pediatric vaccines for children 5 – 11 years old & boosters for teens 12-17

Reminder on the importance of vaccinations, especially during winter months: Vaccination levels in the region remain low, and daily case rates remain high. Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is not only about protecting yourself – it’s also about protecting your family, friends, and community. Vaccination is critically important during the winter months, when indoor gatherings can lead to super-spreader events, clusters, hospitalizations, and severe illness among people who are unvaccinated.

State Resources for Vaccine Records, Locations
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has free online services to find your personal vaccine records and local vaccination locations, including many pharmacies.
Access your vaccine records at https://myvaxrecords.mass.gov/, and find local listings at https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/.

Nearly 800,000 people experience a stroke every year in the United States, so what are the tell-tale signs we should look out for? We hear from Dr. Daniel Sacchetti, DO, Southcoast Health’s Stroke Director.

Learn more about Dr. Sacchetti at www.southcoast.org/doctors/daniel-sacchetti-do/ and Southcoast Health’s stroke care at www.southcoast.org/services/brain-and-spine-treatment/stroke-care/.

Here are more resources on how to make healthy lifestyle changes and control health conditions that raise risk for stroke:

American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: https://www.stroke.org/en/

Massachusetts Stroke Prevention and Control: https://www.mass.gov/stroke-prevention-and-control

Massachusetts Stroke Resources: https://www.mass.gov/lists/stroke-resources

Stroke Symptoms: https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-symptoms https://www.mass.gov/service-details/stroke-signs-and-symptoms-act-fast

Stroke Family Warmline: https://www.stroke.org/en/help-and-support/for-family-caregivers/stroke-family-warmline

1-888-478-7653

Stroke Support Group Finder: https://www.stroke.org/en/stroke-support-group-finder

Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program: https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-tobacco-cessation-and-prevention-program-mtcp

1-800-QUIT-NOW

SSTAR – Smoke Cessation https://www.sstar.org/smoking-cessation/

1-508-679-5222

Go to the Open Access Center, 386 Stanely Street, Fall River, MA 02720. Mon-Fri 7:30am-3pm for intake. There is a smoking cessation group on Tuesday mornings at 10:30am.

On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took two actions to expand the use of the antiviral drug Veklury (remdesivir) to certain non-hospitalized adults and pediatric patients for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. This provides another treatment option to reduce the risk of hospitalization in high-risk patients. Previously, the use of Veklury was limited to patients requiring hospitalization.

“On the heels of the FDA’s recent authorization of two oral antiviral drugs, today’s actions bolster the arsenal of therapeutics to treat COVID-19 and respond to the surge of the omicron variant,” said Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Today’s actions provide adults and pediatric patients, with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of severe COVID-19, with a treatment option they could receive outside of a traditional inpatient hospital setting, including at skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare settings and outpatient facilities such as infusion centers.”

Veklury is not a substitute for vaccination in individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination and a booster dose are recommended. The FDA has approved one vaccine and authorized others to prevent COVID-19 and the serious clinical outcomes associated with COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. The FDA urges the public to get vaccinated and receive a booster if eligible. Learn more about FDA-approved or -authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

The FDA has expanded the approved indication for Veklury to include its use in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older who weigh at least 40 kilograms, which is about 88 pounds) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are not hospitalized and have mild-to-moderate COVID-19, and are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.

The agency also revised the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Veklury to additionally authorize the drug for treatment of pediatric patients weighing 3.5 kilograms to less than 40 kilograms or pediatric patients less than 12 years of age weighing at least 3.5 kilograms, with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are not hospitalized and have mild-to-moderate COVID-19, and are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization of death.

Based on today’s actions, these high-risk non-hospitalized patients may receive Veklury via intravenous infusion for a total of three days for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease.

The approval of Veklury for use in non-hospitalized patients is supported by a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that included 562 non-hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who were at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. The main outcome measured in the trial was whether a patient was hospitalized for any COVID-19 related reason or died from any reason within 28 days of treatment. Overall, 2 of 279 patients who received Veklury (0.7%) required COVID-19 related hospitalization compared to 15 of 283 patients who received a placebo (5.3%). There were no deaths in either group.

Pediatric patients for whom Veklury is authorized will receive doses adjusted for their body weight in order to achieve comparable exposures to adults and pediatric patients receiving the approved dose. Given the similar course of COVID-19 disease, the authorization of Veklury in certain pediatric patients is based on extrapolation of efficacy from adequate and well-controlled studies in adults.

Important details about using Veklury to treat COVID-19 for its approved use is available in the prescribing information, which includes dosing instructions, potential side effects and drug interactions. Possible side effects include increased levels of liver enzymes, which may be a sign of liver injury; and allergic reactions, which may include changes in blood pressure and heart rate, low blood oxygen level, fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling (e.g., lips, around eyes, under the skin), rash, nausea, sweating or shivering. Similar safety information about using Veklury to treat COVID-19 in certain non-hospitalized pediatric patients under the EUA is available in the fact sheets for health care providers and parents/caregivers.

The FDA granted approval and reissued the revised EUA to Gilead Sciences Inc.

Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced an order was placed with iHealth to supply the state with 26 million rapid antigen tests over the next 3 months. The tests will be prioritized to support K-12 schools and childcare settings. The agreement allows for shipments of tests to arrive on a rolling basis in the Commonwealth, but the Administration warns that the timing and shipment amounts will vary depending on international shipping and production variables.

The Baker-Polito Administration also released a public health advisory this week to advise all residents on when to seek tests for COVID-19. The advisory advises all residents to seek COVID-19 tests when exhibiting COVID symptoms, or five days following a known close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID pursuant to MA DPH quarantine and isolation protocols, updated as of December 29 in accordance with the new CDC guidance.

The new isolation protocols do not require a COVID-19 test to exit isolation after having COVID. This general rule also applies to childcare and K-12. Additional information on testing protocols for specific situations in childcare can be found here and for K-12 can be found here.

The new quarantine protocols recommend, but do not require, all exposed individuals get a test five days after exposure. Exposed individuals do not need to quarantine in the following circumstances:
– If fully vaccinated and not yet eligible to receive a booster OR
– If fully vaccinated and have received their booster OR
-0 If they had COVID and it is less than 90 days since they were diagnosed. For more details visit here.

DPH advises that a positive COVID-19 rapid antigen does not need to be confirmed with a PCR test.

DPH recommends individuals that have COVID symptoms and test negative with a rapid antigen test should isolate and either repeat an antigen test or get a PCR test in 24-48 hours if they continue to exhibit symptoms. Additionally, DPH does not advise employers, or schools and childcare, to require a test as a condition of returning to work or school.

View the public health advisory here.

Vaccination and getting a booster remain the best possible protection against COVID. There are almost 1,000 locations in the Commonwealth for residents to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or booster. Visit VaxFinder.mass.gov to book an appointment.

Massachusetts National Guard

Governor Baker also today activated 500 additional members of the Massachusetts National Guard to support the state’s health care system. This order expands the National Guard activation of 500 members announced on December 21 to support non-clinical functions in the Commonwealth’s hospitals. Prioritized uses for the newly activated 500 members will be to provide additional non-clinical staffing at community hospitals and high-volume emergency departments, public hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and dialysis centers. These guard personnel will be deployed beginning the week of January 17.

Amid an aggressive surge in COVID-19 infections, Massachusetts is also grappling with the early months of what is shaping up to be an active season for the flu.

Influenza-like illness activity reached the highest of four severity ratings in the week from Dec. 19 to Dec. 25, the most recent period with a Department of Public Health report available. That’s the earliest point in the season that the Bay State hit that level in several years.

The 93 health care facilities that serve as “sentinel sites” to monitor the flu reported that 3.38 percent of visits they saw in the week ending on Christmas Day were for influenza-like illness, well above the 2 percent regional baseline that estimates a typical impact and higher than the same week in any of the past three years.

DPH defines influenza-like illness as a fever of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit in addition to a cough and/or a sore throat — symptoms similar to those that COVID-19 patients experience.

“Many more people are infected with influenza than are tested for influenza,” the department noted in its report. “ILI is used throughout the regular influenza season to help track influenza activity in individuals who are not tested, as trends in ILI have been shown to mirror influenza trends.”

While activity has been robust so far, the intensity of influenza illness has not climbed at the same rate. DPH called the severity of influenza “moderate,” the second-lowest of four options, in the week ending Dec. 25.

About 0.62 percent of hospitalizations in Massachusetts were associated with influenza that week, in line with the same point during the 2019-2020 season and below this time in the 2018-2019 season.

So far, the flu’s effect has varied by region.

DPH said central Massachusetts is experiencing the most potent impact, while the northeast, southeast and inner metro Boston regions also face high influenza-like illness activity. Boston itself, the outer metro Boston area and western Massachusetts are reporting moderate influenza-like illness activity, DPH said.

DPH’s most recent report, published on Friday, also marks the first time state health officials have deemed influenza-like illness activity high since the week ending April 18, 2020, early on in the COVID-19 pandemic that upended the world.

For the entire October 2020 to May 2021 season, when pandemic precautions such as capacity restrictions and social distancing were more common, DPH said its sentinel providers reported “minimal” flu activity.

In the 2019-2020 season, DPH declared flu activity high across the state for the first time the week ending Dec. 28, 2019.

Most positive influenza specimens recently reported by health care facilities in Massachusetts are influenza Type A, and H3N2 is currently the predominant strain, DPH said.

As they prepare for an uptick in flu illness, health care providers in Massachusetts and across the country are already struggling under the weight of the ongoing COVID-19 surge and persistent staffing shortages. A group of physicians and nurses on Monday cautioned that the state’s emergency departments are at “critical capacity” and that “things will get worse.”

The flu season also continues to ramp up in other parts of the country. In its own report covering the week ending Dec. 25, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the eastern and central United States are “seeing the majority of viruses reported” while western states are reporting lower levels of influenza virus circulation.

Most influenza A (H3N2) infections have occurred among children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 24 years old, the CDC said, but the “proportion of infections occurring among adults age 25 years and older has been increasing.”

The CDC deemed Massachusetts and 15 other states and jurisdictions to have “high” influenza-like illness activity in the most recent week of surveillance. Three others — Georgia, North Dakota and New Jersey — had “very high” activity in that span, the CDC said.

Hospitalizations for influenza are on the rise, too, while CDC cautioned of “early signs that flu vaccination uptake is down this season compared to last.”

“The flu season is just getting started,” the national agency wrote. “There’s still time to get vaccinated. An annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine.”

Take the First Step’ connects residents with specially trained quit coaches.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced the launch of Take the First Step, a campaign to help adults quit smoking, vaping, or using other tobacco or nicotine products. The campaign encourages residents considering quitting tobacco or nicotine products to take the first step by calling the Massachusetts Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) or visiting mass.gov/quitting.

“DPH has a long history of smoking cessation programs aimed at reducing access to and the influence of tobacco and vaping products in our communities,” said Acting Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke. “Making the decision to quit smoking can be overwhelming. This program provides a pathway of support and resources for residents who want to stop using tobacco and nicotine products. It’s never too late to quit.”

The Take the First Step public awareness campaign will run on TV, radio, social and digital media, on billboards and in print ads in select cities and towns across the Commonwealth in English and Spanish.

Residents who enroll in the Quitline program have access to specially trained coaches who work with them to develop individualized plans and provide ongoing support. The program is free and has helped many residents quit for good. Residents can also enroll and receive coaching services online via e-chat. Medically eligible residents (18+) may get eight weeks of free quit medicines (patches, gums, lozenges) after talking with a quit coach.

Residents who enroll in the Quitline program will receive:

• Help making a quit plan. Quit coaches can offer advice on medicines and how to get through cravings.
• Support for people who have already quit and need help staying nicotine-free.
• Connection with local one-on-one counselors and quit-smoking groups.

Multilingual support — English-, Spanish-, and Arabic-speaking coaches are available. Spanish speakers may call 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569) directly to speak with a Spanish-speaking coach. Interpreter services are available for 200 languages.

Additionally, 1-800-QUIT-NOW offers several specialized support programs:

• Support for individuals who are currently pregnant
• Support for individuals who use menthol products
• American Indian Commercial Tobacco Program
• Additional coaching and support for individuals who self-report having anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, or substance use disorder
• Program for young adults who use tobacco or vape (ages 18-24, includes live text coaching)
• Special support for youth ages 12-17 through a program called My Life, My Quit™

Learn more about 1-800-QUIT-NOW at mass.gov/quitting.

Southcoast Health is pleased to announce the official opening of its new, state-of-the-art Patient Service Center, located on the Fairhaven campus. This advancement will gradually transition from numerous small, standalone call centers to one fully integrated Patient Service Center staffed by patient service advisors with specialized training and certification in their clinical specialty.

The Service Center will streamline the patient experience through a variety of offerings, including helping patients quickly schedule and register for their appointments and handling needs such as medication refill requests, appointment reminders and more.

The Service Center’s opening comes following nearly a year of planning and build-out, marking another major milestone in Southcoast Health’s efforts to make accessing care faster and more convenient for patients – part of its promise to deliver exceptional care from people who care. Other recent access improvements include expanded online scheduling capabilities and virtual care options.

“We recognize that navigating healthcare can be a complicated, and sometimes frustrating process, and Southcoast Health is committed to changing that for our community,” said Russ Onofrio, Director of the Southcoast Health Service Center. “This accomplishment would not be possible without the collaboration, hard work and support of Southcoast providers, practice staff and other team members who are dedicated to improving our patients’ experiences and outcomes.”

For patients, the transition will be seamless. They will continue to call the same number they are used to calling when trying to access their Southcoast provider or practice. As more practices and staff transition to the Patient Service Center, patients will be made aware of additional capabilities and conveniences, including the ability to schedule appointments across different practices during one call.

“The Patient Service Center is an important step in our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional service,” said Yinka Oluwole, Southcoast Health’s Director of Service Excellence and Patient Experience.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment to see a Southcoast Health provider, please visit Southcoast Health’s website at www.southcoast.org.

Additionally, Southcoast Health is currently hiring personnel for the Patient Service Center and will continue to do so as it grows. Open positions include Patient Services Advisor, Team Lead and Service Center Operations Manager. Interested persons can view these positions on the Careers page of the Southcoast Health website at https://www.southcoast.org/careers/.

There’s help for your mental health, and it’s way easier than you think.

Whether you’re in a mental health crisis, just need someone to talk to or know someone who is struggling with mental health, there’s a team ready to help.
Right here in New Bedford is the 24/7 Emergency Services Program (ESP), run by Child & Family Services at 543 North Street, just north of Buttonwood Park.
All you have to do is call 508-996-3154 at any hour of any day of the year to start a journey toward better mental health.

You probably have questions. Let’s answer some of the most common.

Q: Do I need to be in a crisis?

A: No. You can call any time, for anything. Yes, Child & Family Services ESP helps those in a mental health crisis. But you do NOT need to be in a crisis to see them. Do not be afraid to call even if it’s just to talk and process your emotions. The team is here to listen, be your outlet and intervene before you reach a state of distress, whenever possible.

Q: Do I need insurance?

A: No. The priority is you. You do not need insurance to call or visit ESP, so don’t let that be a reason not to call. Pick up the phone and let them take care of the rest.

Q: Do I need reliable transportation? Do I need to come to your offices?

A: No. Don’t worry about transportation. The Mobile Crisis Intervention (MCI) program allows members of the ESP team to meet you where it is safest, whether that’s at your home, or somewhere in the community. If you prefer to visit at the offices, Child & Family Services offers transportation from 18 cities and towns from New Bedford to Plymouth.

Q: When are you closed?

A: Never. No time is a bad time. The phone lines and building are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays and weekends. You can call/visit any time of the day or night. The team is here to listen.

Q: Should I visit an emergency room first?

A: If you are in a medical emergency: Yes. If you are not, let ESP help you first, because the ER brings longer wait times and the possibility of large medical bills. And more likely than not, the ER will simply refer you back to ESP anyway. So skip that step, let ESP intervene and consider all your options, starting with the least restrictive level of care.

So if you or someone you know is stressed, depressed or struggling with mental health or substance use, please call the team at 508-996-3154. Child & Family Services’ ESP offers 24/7 services for people of all ages in need of mental health counseling and/or evaluation.