More and Expanded Programs Help but Need is Large
OAKTON, Va. (March 21, 2024) — HopeLink (formerly PRS), a leading behavioral health nonprofit serving Northern Virginia and beyond, saw record demand for its services in 2023, a trend it expects to continue as need outstrips services. “Demand for mental health services is very high as more people feel comfortable to reach out for help coupled with more people experiencing behavioral health issues. So many people are dealing with mental health crises and finding it difficult to get the help they need,” explained Joseph Getch, CEO, HopeLink. “We continue to evolve and expand our innovative offerings to meet the community’s needs. Yet we know it’s still not enough as our own growth reveals.”
As part of its work, HopeLink is a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Center and Regional Crisis Call Center answering calls, texts, and chats from across Virginia and the nation. In 2023, the programs handled more than 180,000 crisis calls, texts, and chats from people facing life crises. Of these, 45% of 988 inquiries were from Virginia, up 20% from 2022. To date for 2024, HopeLink’s crisis call center is fielding 314 calls/chats/texts a day from Virginia, a 22% increase over 2023, and another 342 contacts a day nationally.
Last year, HopeLink served over 2,000 individuals and families in Northern Virginia through a variety of behavioral health programs, up 11% from 2022. One specific program—HopeLink’s outpatient behavioral health therapy—experienced a 42% uptick in client sessions from 2022, reaching 2,594 sessions. This represents nearly 97% growth from 2020 when HopeLink began its Outpatient Therapy program. Referrals to the program are expected to grow 22% in 2024.
Another example of growing demand is HopeLink’s new Transition to Independence Process (TIP) program, which provides intensive support over an 18-month period for Northern Virginia youth (14-29) who are experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties. Launched in late 2023, TIP has already filled all 30 initial spots and is now working hard to identify and secure additional funding to both expand and sustain the service. TIP is a youth-driven, highly effective program that helps youth and young adults with emotional and behavioral disorders transition to adulthood life skill goals so they can live independent, fuller lives.
HopeLink Behavioral Health (formerly PRS)
HopeLink is a leading nonprofit helping those living with diverse behavioral health issues and anyone who faces life crises achieve independence, self-sufficiency and safety. HopeLink provides people they serve with skill training and support to help them recover and rebuild their lives through a range of services, including: Psychosocial Rehabilitation Day Program Services, Mental Health Outpatient Therapy, Mental Health Skills-Building, Individual Supported Employment, Peer Support Services, Coordinated Specialty Care and CrisisLink – a national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Center and Regional Crisis Call Center covering most of Virginia. For 24/7 support from CrisisLink, call or text 988. For 24/7 chat support, visit 988lifeline.org/chat. www.HopeLinkBH.org.
