Above: Town Manager Andy Nota with EG police and fire officials raising awareness of 988 for mental health calls.
Monday, Sept. 8, is 988 Awareness Day, teaching people about the national number to call in times of mental health strife. We all know that we call 911 when there’s a medical or physical emergency. But what about when you are feeling really down and don’t know of anyone you can talk to? That’s 988, with experienced counselors on the other end of the call.
“So 988 is to mental health what 911 is to a physical emergency,” said Maria Bucci, EG’s director of prevention and support services. “The number is for anyone who’s struggling with thoughts of suicide or feeling ostracized or has no one to turn to.”…