We can all hep prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7 FREE and confidential support for people in distress or crisis. No matter what problems you’re dealing with, whether or not you’re thinking about suicide, you may need someone to lean on for emotional or mental support. People call to talk about lots of things: substance abuse, economic worries, relationships, sexual identity, getting over abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, and loneliness, to name a few.
Talking to someone about your thoughts and feelings can save your life!
Call 988 Now!
Get Help Now!
Has it become harder to get through each day? if you are having issues with mental health, drugs or alcohol?
Venango County Substance Disorder Program
Case coordination provides resource linkage to the community and to providers who are navigating the system for supports for substance use disorder recovery. Case coordination is not treatment, but a case manager. The case coordinator can help guide participants through:
- Benefits
- Employment
- Housing
- Other needs as identified
Frequency & Location of Contacts
Frequency will be as needed. Services can be done in the community, home, or provider office.
Eligibility
Adults ages 18 and up must come through Venango County Substance Abuse for an assessment and referral.
Service Providers
- Venango County Substance Use Disorder
1 Dale Avenue
Franklin PA, 16323
Phone: 814-432-9200 - Family Service & Children’s Aid Society of Venango County
716 E 2nd Street
Oil City, PA 16301
Phone: 814-677-4005
Here are some small steps you can take:
- Reach Out if you are in crisis by calling or texting 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org. You will be able to speak with a crisis counselor any time day or night
- Accept Where You are Now as healing isn't a straight line. There will be ups and downs along the way. Speak to yourself with kindness just like you are speaking to a friend
SAMHSA's National Helpline is 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365 day-of-year information service provided in English or Spanish. The Helpline is for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. TTY: 1-800-487-4889.
About 988
People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a caring, trained counselor who can help.
988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:
- Thoughts of suicide
- Mental health or substance use crises
- Emotional distress
- And other reasons to connect (46 seconds)
Need for 988
Too many people are experiencing suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress without the support and care they need, and sadly, the pandemic only made a bad situation worse when it comes to mental health and wellness in America.
There are urgent realities driving the need for crisis service transformation across our country.
In 2021 and 2022:
- The U.S. had one death by suicide about every 11 minutes
- For people aged 10–14 and 25–34 years, suicide was the second-leading cause of death
- Suicide rates increased significantly among non-Hispanic Black & American Indian and Alaska Native people
- More than 950,000 youth aged 12-17 and 1.6 million adults attempted suicide
- About 107,000 people died from drug overdoses
Yet, there is hope. The 988 Lifeline helps thousands of people struggling to overcome suicidal crises or mental health-related distress every day.
Additional Resources:
What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families
Created for family members of people with alcohol abuse or drug abuse problems. Answers questions about substance abuse, its symptoms, different types of treatment, and recovery. Addresses concerns of children of parents with substance use/abuse problems.
It's Not Your Fault (NACoA) (PDF | 12 KB)
Assures teens with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs that, "It's not your fault!" and that they are not alone. Encourages teens to seek emotional support from other adults, school counselors, and youth support groups such as Alateen, and provides a resource list.
After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department
Aids family members in coping with the aftermath of a relative's suicide attempt. Describes the emergency department treatment process, lists questions to ask about follow-up treatment, and describes how to reduce risk and ensure safety at home.
Family Therapy Can Help: For People in Recovery From Mental Illness or Addiction
Explores the role of family therapy in recovery from mental illness or substance abuse. Explains how family therapy sessions are run and who conducts them, describes a typical session, and provides information on its effectiveness in recovery.
24 Hour Hotline - 1-800-490-8505
Abuse reports can be made on behalf of an older adult whether the person lives in their home or in a care facility such as a nursing facility, personal care home, hospital, etc. The reporters may remain anonymous and have legal protection from retaliation, discrimination and civil or criminal prosecution.
Common signs and symptoms of abuse may include:
- Isolation
- Weight loss
- Bruises or broken bones
- Increased confusion
- Unusual withdrawals from any account
- Signing over one’s home to another
Issues with reporting electronically? Call ChildLine!
Reporting Child Abuse/Neglect
Trained specialists are available 24/7 to receive referrals of suspected child abuse and general child well-being concerns. Mandated reporters are certain adults, who are legally required to report suspected child abuse if they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse. The law requires that the mandated reporter identify themselves and where they can be reached. In addition to having documentation that the report was made, this information is also helpful so that if clarification on the situation or additional information is needed, the children and youth caseworker can contact the mandated reporter.
Mandated reporters may report by telephone or electronically through the Child Welfare Portal. In addition, permissive reporters are individuals who are encouraged to report suspected child abuse, although not required by law. Permissive reporters can make a report at any time they suspect a child is the victim of child abuse. Permissive reporters may report anonymously. Permissive reporters can report by telephone by calling 1-800-932-0313.
Each report is handled by a trained specialist who determine the most appropriate course of action. Actions include forwarding the report to:
- County children and youth agencies or the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) Regional Offices for investigation or assessment;
- Law enforcement officials for investigation; and
- Department of Human Services program offices for review and possible licensing action.
When making a report of suspected child abuse or general child well-being concerns, it is important to provide as much information as possible. The below list will give you a general idea of what information our trained specialists will ask you for:
- Name and physical description of the child
- Age or approximate age range of the child
- Name, home address, and telephone number of legal guardian or parent of the child
- Name or physical description of suspected child abuse perpetrator
- Home address and telephone number of suspected child abuse perpetrator
- Suspected perpetrator's relationship to the child
- Description of the suspected injury to the child
- Where the incident took place
- Any concern for the child's immediate safety
- Your relationship to the child
- Your contact information, although you may report anonymously if you are a permissive reporter
To report suspicions of abuse and/or neglect of children in other languages, please call ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313.
TDD (Telephone Device for the Deaf): 1-866-872-1677.
These numbers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Caseworkers are waiting to assist you.
Venango County utilizes a Protective Intake & Crisis (PIC) unit for all Human Service intakes. One centralized unit provides services for Children Youth & Family; Emerging Adults, Adults, Older Adults, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorder.
All of the PIC Unit staff is cross-trained and ready to handle assessments, crisis intervention, emergency assessments, mental health intakes, child and older adult protective services, just to name a few. This integrated approach allows for greater integration and collaboration of services.
The PIC Unit is available to Venango County residents 24-hours-a-day and 7-days-a-week.