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April 28, 2003
HONOLULU - Maui Mental Health Kokua Crisis Line in Transition.
The Maui Mental Health Kokua crisis/help line (244-7407) will soon
be merged into the Department of Health’s (DOH) ACCESS line
1-800-753-ENTRY (6879). The transition is on going through May 29. Maui
Mental Health Kokua’s crisis/help line number 244-7407 was
disconnected on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 as a result of the DOH
AMHD Access expansion from Oahu to the entire state. The disconnected
line had a message to refer all callers to Department of Health Adult
Mental Health Division Access line. Maui Mental Health Kokua’s
crisis line’s existing contract with AMHD was to expire at the
end of February. When Dr. Thomas Vendetti, DOH AMHD Service Area
Administrator for Maui heard concerns from consumers and interested
parties, he immediately informed DOH AMHD Chief Dr Thomas Hester who
reinstituted the previous crisis/help line number until May
29th to facilitate a smooth transition. The Maui Mental
Health Kokua crisis/help line resumed service on Saturday March 1,
2003. The three month transition will hopefully allow callers from Maui
to start using the DOH AMHD Access toll free number and get used to
talking with the Access Screeners. DOH AMHD would like to thank Mental
Health Kokua for acting expeditiously in reinstituting the previous
crisis line
Persons needing mental health crisis services can call either the
ACCESS Line 24/7 to assess entry into appropriate mental health and
crisis services for adults. A toll free number is now available for
callers on the neighbor islands at 1-800-75-ENTRY (3-6879).
This number is free of charge from any public or private phone. The
use of the toll free number allows for multiple calls to be answered at
the same time by the ACCESS Screeners. ACCESS line staff assess the
immediacy of the caller’s needs and link them to appropriate
services, provide suicide and crisis intervention, schedule AMHD
eligibility assessments, authorize all admissions to Hawaii State
Hospital and provide further information and referral. The ACCESS Line
started in Oahu on September 5, 2002. Since then, the ACCESSAccess Line
has received over 26,000 calls since then. ACCESS has developed several
community partnerships in Oahu including Aloha United Way (211), Warm
Lines, etc.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Edna Magpantay-Manroe
Adult Mental Health - ACCESS
Phone: (808) 832-3057
E-mail: ermonroe@amhd.health.sate.hi.us
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