Counseling Help Line Available For People Coping With The Northern Illinois University Campus Shooting

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 18 Feb 2008 - 14:00 PDT

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A free help line is available to all residents in Illinois who are trying to cope with the emotional consequences of the recent Northern Illinois University campus shooting. Staffed by experienced master's-level behavioral health specialists, the free help line offers callers assistance with a range of personal concerns including stress, anxiety and the grieving process. Callers may also receive referrals to a national database of community resources to help them with specific concerns, such as financial and legal issues.

The toll-free help line number is (866) 342-6892. It will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for as long as necessary. Service is free of charge. Resources and information are also available via the Internet at http://www.liveandworkwell.com.

These services are routinely available to UnitedHealthcare participants courtesy of OptumHealth, the health and wellness division of UnitedHealth Group. OptumHealth serves customers of its sister companies - such as UnitedHealthcare - as well as customers of non-UnitedHealth Group businesses.

Previously, OptumHealth's help line was made available to the public following the tornadoes that hit the Southern states, the Indiana floods, Southern California wildfires, the hurricanes hitting Florida and the Gulf Coast and to individuals affected by the tragic shootings on the Virginia Tech campus and the Minnesota Interstate 35W bridge collapse.

About OptumHealth

As one of the nation's largest health and well-being companies, OptumHealth makes health care easier and better for employers, health plans, public sector entities and the 58 million people with access to its services. The Company's goal is to optimize health, well-being and financial security, while lowering benefit costs and helping consumers make informed decisions about their health through standalone or integrated services. OptumHealth is a division of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH). More information about OptumHealth can be found at http://www.OptumHealth.com.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services. The company organizes access to quality, affordable health care services on behalf of more than 26 million individual consumers, contracting directly with more than 550,000 physicians and care professionals and 4,800 hospitals nationwide to offer them broad, convenient access to services nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.

UnitedHealthcare