Behavioral health hotline adds text and chat access
There’s a new mobile app available that state officials hope will become a lifeline for youth seeking help.
Gov. Brian Kemp today unveiled the My GCAL app. It was built by the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) to give young people instant access to mental health services.
The app works in conjunction with the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL). GCAL is a 24/7 hotline that offers free, confidential access to services for mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. It’s staffed by professionals, including licensed clinicians, who can address behavioral health crises, make referrals for treatment, and dispatch mobile crisis response teams.
“We know that when youth may be struggling or have a friend who needs help, they are much more likely to reach out via text rather than phone,” said DBHDD Commissioner Judy Fitzgerald.
The My GCAL app is available for Apple and Android smartphones. It enables users to receive immediate support by communicating with GCAL professionals via text message, chat, or phone.
During Thursday’s press conference, Kemp spoke about the many challenges facing today’s young people.
“These students and school systems face everything from substance abuse and teen suicide, to broken families and psychological challenges,” he said. “By providing an instant service to a child or young adult in need, I believe this app can, and will, save lives.”
10th District State Representative Terry Rogers was among the state leaders who attended the press conference. First Lady Marty Kemp was also there.
“Right now, Georgia’s youth face tremendous pressure to ‘fit in’ with their peers, and it can take a severe emotional and physical toll on their day-to-day lives,” the First Lady said. “As the parents of three teenage daughters, Brian and I understand that Georgia families face this challenge every single day. We’re committed to standing with them in this fight.”
