If you’ve ever felt down or overwhelmed by life it can be tough to find support. But a statewide phone line is helping thousands of people each year cope with their stress, anxiety and negative feelings. It’s called the Florida Warm line. Callers speak to operators who’ve also struggled with their own mental health.
The goal is to help callers feel connected, understood and less isolated in an effort to prevent a mental crisis. Operators can also provide callers with information about government agencies and organizations that might be able to help with problems impacting their lives—including social services.
The warm line is a statewide mental health support phone service provided by NAMI Collier County. It is funded by the Florida Department of Children and Families through a partnership with the Peer Support Coalition of Florida. The Warm Line is open 365 days a year from 4pm to 10pm. It’s not a crisis line and operators aren’t mental health professionals but are trained as peer specialists.
The Florida Warm Line number is 1-800-945-1355.
Jenny Lapham, a coordinator at the Florida Warm Line, spoke with WGCU’s Sandra Viktorova about how the program is helping people take charge of their mental health.
