Magellan Health Services establishes hotline to counsel those affected by Boston Marathon tragedy

Magellan Health Services Inc., in response to the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy, has set up a 24-hour toll-free hotline to help individuals process feelings of grief, sorrow and depression following the bombings, regardless of whether or not they are Magellan customers. Additionally, the company has posted a toolkit of materials on its website. The toolkit includes information on:

• Reducing anxiety in times of crisis
• Responding to children and youth after traumatic events
• Dealing with trauma in the community
• Establishing a crisis management plan as a supervisor
• Returning back to "normal" after a tragic event
• The effects of traumatic experiences

The hotline (1-800-327-7451) is staffed by behavioral health professionals to offer counseling services to help people cope with the feelings of fear, sadness, anger and hopelessness that can occur following such a tragedy.

"We want to take every opportunity to support those in need at this difficult time," said Barry M. Smith, Magellan's CEO. "This event touches all of us very deeply, and as a national leader in behavioral health we want to make certain that people have access to professionals who can counsel them. It's important that at this time we come together as a nation to lend whatever assistance we can."