Oneida County launches new mental health app
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente announced on Thursday that the county has launched a new phone app to help residents with their mental health.
Picente announced on during his State of The County address that the county's Department of Mental Health has launched the OC C.A.R.E.S. app on Thursday, May 29. The app — whose initialism stands for Community Access to Resources, Education, and Services — will serve as a fast and efficient way to provide residents with resources to help with mental health and addiction problems.
'Oneida County is committed to providing access to vital mental health and substance use resources to our residents,' Picente said in a statement. 'The OC C.A.R.E.S. app will support our mission of utilizing innovative strategies to create meaningful, positive impacts. The goal is to not only create a one-stop shop for all things mental health, but to also share the message that Oneida County cares about our community and is dedicated to ensuring everyone has access to the resources they need.'
The C.A.R.E.S. app will offer quick access to several features, including suicide prevention and other mental and physical health services. The app also provides strategies for maintaining your mental health, as well as services and providers for several crises that may arise. The app will also notify you of updates and events that may be available to you, such as open appointments for specific services.
The app was created in conjunction with the Oneida County System of Care Resource Guide for 2025 and is aimed at improving the lives of people in crisis.
'The development of this application has allowed us to bring together a wealth of information and create a comprehensive directory of providers to our community,' said Commissioner of Mental Health and Director of Community Services Ashlee Thompson. 'Our department is dedicated to the ongoing maintenance and updating of the app to ensure that all resources, information, and services are accurate and accessible. We truly believe that this app will allow the residents of Oneida County to more effectively and efficiently access support.'
The app also provides information on the following:
Crisis Services
Health and Wellness
Suicide Prevention
Naloxone/Harm Reduction
Services & Providers
Mental Health Strategies
Safety Plans
Self-Screeners
Career-Specific Support
Interactive Maps
Push Notifications
The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play. Those interested should search for 'OC C.A.R.E.S' in your app store of choice.
You can check out the county's rollout of the C.A.R.E.S. app in the video below:
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Elk Grove 8th graders' final-quarter grades will only count toward promotion participation
ELK GROVE — Grades will not count as much for 8th-grade students in the Elk Grove Unified School District after it passed a policy that said only grades from the fourth quarter of the school year will count when deciding whether to participate in the promotion ceremony. This means a student could technically fail most of the year, but if they get good grades in the final quarter of 8th grade, they will be able to walk across the stage with their classmates. "What's the point of me showing up?" said Derrick Brown, an 8th-grade science teacher at Samuel Jackman Middle School. Brown has been dedicated to preparing his students for high school for decades and told CBS13 that kids used to need to complete 50 out of 60 credits in order to participate in the promotion ceremony. "Now you're discrediting me as a teacher. How can I hold kids accountable if they are sitting there saying, 'Well, it doesn't count anyway?' " said Brown. It is a district-wide middle school criteria change that states to participate in the promotion ceremony, you can have no more than one "F" in the 4th quarter of 8th grade, you must pay off any fees like library books and you cannot get suspended in the fourth quarter of the school year. "I have gotten straight-A's basically all my life, and so I want to keep it that way," said incoming 8th grader at Joseph Kerr Middle School, Tessa McMahan. She is curious how the policy could impact classrooms and students' willingness to participate and learn. "I know it was really hard keeping my grades up and staying focused when the other students were always interrupting my teacher and stuff," said McMahan. Elk Grove Unified told CBS13 that several of its middle schools already had this policy, so the change was about equity and consistency. "We really care about his grades, and we think it's important to get good grades," said parent Euna Helms. Helms said the grades her incoming 8th grader son gets reflect his hard work and create habits she hopes will carry him through life. "Folks who say middle school grades don't matter anyway. It doesn't go on your permanent record," said Brown. "That's not the point. The point is accountability." The policy will be in place for all nine Elk Grove Unified middle schools for the 2025-2026 school year.
News24
4 hours ago
- News24
Breaking down ‘Budget 3.0'
Be among those who shape the future with knowledge. Uncover exclusive stories that captivate your mind and heart with our FREE 14-day subscription trial. Dive into a world of inspiration, learning, and empowerment. You can only trial once.
News24
4 hours ago
- News24
BEE: A necessary but flawed pathway to economic justice
Be among those who shape the future with knowledge. Uncover exclusive stories that captivate your mind and heart with our FREE 14-day subscription trial. Dive into a world of inspiration, learning, and empowerment. You can only trial once.
