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.

The most important part of a health plan won’t be found in the Schedule of Benefits

Earlier this year, a Community Health Options Member gave birth to a premature baby. Thankfully, the newborn received the best possible care at a big city hospital, but Mom and Dad lived two hours away with two more children to care for, putting incredible strain on the whole family, on top of having a new baby with complex medical needs.

Our care managers began looking for a solution to end the family’s four-hour commute. Once the baby was stabilized and doing well, we worked with the family, the hospital and their pediatrician to move the newborn closer to home, transferring his care to the same pediatrician who would hopefully care for him the rest of his long and healthy childhood.