Staff Support Line Again Available

Woman with a worried expression sits on a bench and holds a phone to her ear

If you need to vent or talk through a particular challenge, call the support line, even if you’re not sure you need help.

Photo: ashT productions/shutterstock

A Staff Support Line is available again for any NIH staff members who need it. The National Institute of Mental Health initially staffed the line from May 2020 to June 2021 as a supplement to services offered by the NIH Employee Assistance Program. The pandemic has continued to challenge us and the line is available again as an additional resource to staff.

If you need to vent or talk through a particular challenge, call the support line, even if you’re not sure you need help. Mental health clinicians can listen to emotional challenges and stressors, provide encouragement and problem-solving approaches, promote resiliency and offer resources. Calls are confidential.

The call line, (301) 451-1151, is staffed Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. EAP is also available at (301) 496-3164.

Emergency national services continue to be available as well. These services are free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and include:

Calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Texting the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741)
Calling SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990
Maryland 211 | MD Health and Human Services | Get Help (211md.org)