Georgia Smartphone App Launched For Youth In Crisis

ATLANTA -- State officials have launched a new mobile application to support the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL), a 24/7 hotline offering free and confidential access to services for mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"Traveling across the state, Marty and I have heard firsthand from parents, students, teachers, and administrators about the growing mental health crisis in our schools and communities," said Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday. That's why we're taking action to fund mental health intervention services, school security measures, and innovative tools like the My GCAL app. ,>

The My GCAL app - for Apple and Android smartphones - was designed to reach Georgia’s youth in times of need, and GCAL is staffed by caring professionals - including licensed clinicians - who are available 24/7 to address behavioral health crises, make referrals for treatment, and dispatch mobile crisis response teams.,>

The Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) is a 24/7 behavioral health crisis call center operated by Behavioral Health Link through funding from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. GCAL provides free and confidential behavioral health crisis intervention and access to behavioral health services.

Anyone in Georgia can call GCAL for help for themselves or on behalf of someone else at 800-715-4225 or via the My GCAL app. Callers actively experiencing a crisis can speak with live clinicians trained in de-escalation. When needed, GCAL can dispatch mobile crisis response teams to provide de-escalation on-site. GCAL information specialists can also provide referrals for treatment in a caller’s area.

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is the state agency that supports people with mental health needs, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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