Moniqu
ue Henningto
on, Communiications Manager p: 512.440.4034 f: 5
512.440.4081
1 moniqu
ue.henningto
[email protected] FOR IMMED
DIATE RELEASSE Condollences for San
ndy Hook, Heelpline for Crisis Austin ‐December 18
8, 2012 ‐ Austtin Travis Cou
unty Integral Care and Boaard of Trusteees offer our deepesst condolence
es to the families and loved
d ones of thee Sandy Hook Elementary SSchool shootiing victims and the entire community of Newtown, CT. Such u nthinkable trragedies ‐ esp
pecially those involvin
ng our childre
en ‐ take an im
mmeasurable
e emotional tooll. Integral C
Care's behavio
oral health prevention and welllness efforts aare providing Austin with nneeded resou
urces in light of the recentt tragedyy. Traumaatic events likke these can h
have residual effects on chhildren and ad
dults. Integraal Care encourages community members in Austin to talk about yoour feelings aand responses with loved ones an
nd to seek he
elp from menttal health pro
ofessionals, if necessary. Sttart by callingg the 24/7 Crisis H
Hotline, 512‐4
472‐HELP (4357), which lin
nks all of Inteegral Care's seervices. Hotliine clinicians offer su
upport to anyyone seeking help, identifyying how theyy can best be served and q
quickly linkingg them w
with the most appropriate resources and ensuring thhey receive th
he best care p
possible. Integraal Care also prromotes public awarenesss and educatioon about men
ntal health th
hrough its Mentall Health First Aid program
m which is designed to teacch the public key skills to h
help someonee develop
ping a mental health problem or crisis. The national ly recognized
d training edu
ucates the broade
er communityy about mentaal health prob
blems and asssociated symptoms. The ggeneral lack o
of understanding in tod
day's society promotes ne
egative stereootypes and prrevents peoplle from obtaining early and appropriate h
help. We musst come togetther as a natiion to supporrt one anotheer in the aaftermath of tthis tragedy. Austin Travis Countyy Mental Health Mental Reetardation Ceenter, dba Ausstin Travis Co
ounty Integrall Care, w
was founded in
n 1967 to pro
ovide commun
nity‐based seervices for aduults and child
dren with braiin‐
based d
disorders inclu
uding mentall illnesses, inttellectual and d developmental disabilities and substan
nce use add
dictions. In 20
012, Integral C
Care earned JJoint Commisssion Accredittation by dem
monstrating nationa
al standards ffor health carre quality and
d safety in behhavioral healtth care. This a
accreditation affirmss Integral Caree's dedication
n to continuou
us quality impprovement annd standard o
of services. Fo
or more in
nformation, vvisit IntegralCa
are.org. # # #