NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — During the holidays depression and calls about drug addiction spike.
Concerns about depression and loved ones lead to an increase in calls to the Addiction Campuses call center. Treatment specialists at the center helps connect people to recovery programs.
At the same time people are enjoying time with their families and making shopping lists for the holidays, thousands of other people are struggling emotionally and physically.
At Addiction Campuses Brentwood call center treatment specialists who answer the phone see an increase in calls.
“It could be family members or the person struggling themselves,” treatment specialist Jamie Myers said. “We ask a lot of questions just to make sure that the person is clinically appropriate.”
Myers became a treatment specialist in February.
As part of her job she answers questions, helps navigate insurance claims, will arrange transportation to an Addiction Campuses program and even connect family members to an interventionist if they need one.
“We will do everything from taking that first call to getting them to the front door of the treatment facility,” she said.
During the holidays especially addictions and depression can become more noticeable because family members are seeing a relative who is struggling for the first time all year.
“Maybe they are in school or have been away so these families are getting together for first time in a long time,” Myers said. “They are seeing different personalities they are seeing different reactions.”
It is also a time for people to struggle with depression.
“We get a lot of calls from people who are depressed and we get a lot of calls from parents who feel something is not right about their kids,” Public Relations Manager Brian Sullivan said. “They come home and they are isolated they sort of shut down.”
Sullivan also said Season Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real condition that impacts thousands of people.
“Happy is simply an emotion,” Sullivan said. “What we want to instill in people is a joy.”
He continued, “You can be upset about something, you can be hurt about something, but you have to have a faith that things are going to get better.”
The CEO of Addiction Campuses Brent Clements decided to release $100,000 in funding before the end of this year to help people who need treatment over the holidays.
The money is available on a case by case basis, the emergency of the need and how much money the client needs to pay for treatment.
For more information about the programs and services available through addiction campuses, you can go to their website by clicking here.
The 24-hour help line can be reached at 1-888-614-2251. There is also a live chat option on the Addiction Campuses website.
