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National Suicide Prevention: 988, 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress 

Call2Talk: Operated by United Way of Tri-County, you can access this helpline by calling 2-1-1 or directly by calling 508-532-2255. The helpline’s primary purpose is crisis support. However, they also offer a telecheck program. Telecheck is a phone check-in service for elder adults operated in partnership with BayPath Elder Services and Advocates. Trained call-takers contact seniors weekly to provide support and friendly conversation following sudden life changes. 

The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds – based at Massachusetts General Hospital, is a free on-line educational resource to empower adults to support the mental, emotional and behavioral well-being of the young people in their lives, in challenging times.  It’s innovative multimedia platform offers engaging content with blogs (articles, Q+A, practical tips), videos (short films, PSAs, webinars) and a podcast, all regularly updated by new research, current events and user feedback.  Topics include anxiety, stress, depression, learning, trauma, suicide, and societal issues like digital media, cyber bullying, plus self-care and resilience building to manage through uncertainty and promote endurance.  Many of these resources are available in Spanish. 

Crisis Text Line – Free, nationwide, 24/7 text message service for people in crisis: text HOME to 741741 in the US 

Disabled Persons Protection Commission at (800) 426-9009 – To report abuse of a person with a disability under the age of 60. 

Elder Abuse Hotline: 800-922-2275 – 24/7, report physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, caretaker neglect, financial exploitation, and self neglect of persons 60 years or older. Online or by phone. To report abuse of a person by nursing home or hospital, call the Department of Public Health at (800) 462-5540. Call 911 or local police if you have an emergency or life-threatening situation. 

National Alliance of Eating Disorders: The leading national nonprofit organization providing referrals, education, and support for individuals experiencing eating disorders and their loved ones 

National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-7233 or text START to 88788. 24/7 help and access to resources for survivors of domestic violence. 

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.HOPE – Free, confidential, 24/7 trained support specialists who are ready to help 

Lahey Health Behavioral Services – Provides individual and group therapy for mental health and substance use issues; addiction treatment; family services; mobile crisis teams for behavioral and substance-related emergencies; inpatient psychiatric care, plus home and school-based programs for children and teens 

The Helpline – Free and confidential statewide, public resource for finding substance use treatment and recovery services 

Learn to Cope – Non-profit support network for parents and family members coping with a loved one addicted to opiates or other drugs 

Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then press 1. 24/7 confidential crisis support for Veterans and their loved ones. (It is not necessary to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect.)   

William James INTERFACE Referral Service: A mental health and wellness referral service that matches your needs with licensed local providers, usually within 2 weeks. The interface is not designated to respond to urgent, emergency, or crisis situations. You can call the helpline toll free 888-244-6843, Monday through Friday 9am-5pm. 

General Health Information: 

Choosing Wisely – Choosing Wisely is an initiative of the ABIM Foundation that seeks to advance a national dialogue on avoiding unnecessary medical tests, treatments and procedures. 

HealthReach – National collaborative with multilingual, multicultural public health information for those working with or providing care to individuals with limited English proficiency 

Medline Plus – Information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language consumers can understand 

NCCN Patient Resources – The National Comprehensive Cancer Network is a not-for-profit organization. This web portal links you to over 50 patient guides for various types of cancer, webinars, and other resources for patients and caregivers. 

Privacy and Reproductive Rights – Given the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the Massachusetts Library System has put together a guide for how this effects people’s expectations of privacy and personal information online – something that may no longer be secure as some states restrict access to reproductive health. 

PubMed Health – Information for consumers and clinicians on prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions 

Skinsight – Insight from experts about treating and caring for your skin. Includes a rash and skin condition finder 

 

Prescriptions and Medications: 

Merck Manual Consumer – Detailed and informative prescription resource 

Prescribers’ Digital Reference – Trusted information on health knowledge products and services that support prescribing decisions and patient adherence to improve health 

Web Poison Control – Online tool that helps determine if a substance is poisonous and how to respond 

Pill Identifier – Look up pills by color, shape, imprints, or brand name 

 

Wellness Resources: 

Darebee: Funded solely by donations, Darebee offers free workouts, challenges, and guided programs most of which require little to no home equipment.  Darebee’s programs can be downloaded as PDFs. 

Darebeets: A newcompanion site to Darebee with loads of recipes that are flavorful, eclectic, and healthy. Both sites are not just free, but ad-free! 

UCLA Health Guided Meditations – For a free introduction to mindfulness meditation that you can practice on your own, stream or download the guided meditations recorded by UCLA MARC’s Director of Mindfulness Education, Diana Winston. 

 

Organizations: 

Chelmsford Board of Health’s Facebook Page – Follow the BoH on Facebook and learn about upcoming events 

FDA Consumer Health Information – Replacing the FDA’s print publication, FDA Consumer, this website is the Food and Drug Administration’s source for consumer health and safety information 

MASeniorCare.org – Information on senior care resources in Massachusetts, including a facility finder 

Massachusetts Certified Assisted Living Residences – List of certified assisted-living facilities in MA, from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs; searchable by city/town/zip code, or from a downloadable list 

MA Board of Registration in Medicine – Physician Profiles, including education, training, and experience of all licensed MA physicians 

National Institutes of Health – Health information for the public, scientists, researchers, medical professionals, patients, educators, and students 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Information on diseases and conditions, healthy living, travelers’ health, disaster preparedness, and more. 

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