You are not alone: Resources to cope with trauma after the Lewiston mass shooting

Oct 26, 2023

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We are steadfast in our support for the well-being of our fellow Mainers and will do everything within our ability to facilitate easy access to care—including behavioral and mental health services.

We are deeply saddened by the mass shooting that has shocked our home city of Lewiston and left our community in mourning. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and our neighbors. We offer our deepest condolences and support, along with hope for the speedy recovery of those who were injured.

This is an incredibly difficult time for the people of Maine. The impact of this incomprehensible event can be felt from southern Maine to The County, from ocean to mountain, and in every heart that holds Maine dear. We are steadfast in our support for the well-being of our fellow Mainers and will do everything within our ability to facilitate easy access to care—including behavioral and mental health services.

All Community Health Options Members can now schedule free sessions with an Amwell® Telehealth therapist.

Learn more by clicking here, or to speak with a therapist, log into your Amwell account and enter your service key (HealthOptions207) in the upper right-hand corner of the page - click “More” to enter the service key if you are accessing on a mobile device. Select the box that is labeled “Therapy” and schedule your appointment. To access Amwell by phone, please call (844) 733-3627 to speak with support.

Above all, remember that it’s OK to feel overwhelmed or isolated. Here are some resources that may help:

Gov. Janet Mills’ office has created the Healing Together website, which includes a list of resources across the Maine, including help for victims in the Lewiston-Auburn area and mental support services. Other resources include NAMI Maine and Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services.
Healthwise, a nonprofit, unbiased evidence-based source of information, helps you navigate your health concerns, including helping children deal with trauma. You can also search for information about mental and emotional well-being to help you deal with stress in this difficult time.
The National Institute of Mental Health and PBS Kids are among many other sources offering tips to help youngsters navigate scary news stories, including providing some warning signs to look for as children and adolescents react to traumatic events.
Teens and young adults, aged 13-24, can text 207-515-8398, between noon and 10 p.m. to connect online with other young people to help them meet their challenges.

Most important, if you are in crisis and need immediate help, you can dial 988, which routes you to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you just need someone to talk with, you can call Maine’s Intentional Warm Line at (866) 771-9276.

Finally, if you have any questions about resources available to you through Community Health Options, need help accessing Amwell, or want to talk with one of the members of our Care Management team, please call our Maine-based Member Services team at (855) 624-6463, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

At Community Health Options, we’re Members and patients, too

We recently sat down with David Stuart, senior vice president and chief operations officer at Community Health Options, to talk about why it’s important for companies to find health insurance partners that can facilitate access to health and wellness resources to help their employees thrive. Here’s what he had to say.