H-E-L-P coming soon to Hall County

GAINESVILLE - A pilot program to divert mentally ill people away from jail was announced Wednesday in Gainesville.

H-E-L-P, or Health-Empowerment-Linkage- Possibilities, will start in Hall County in late October.

Its aim is to divert non-violent mentally ill people from jail cells and get them the help they need to be productive citizens.

Northeastern Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Kathlene Gosselin said H-E-L-P will be a cooperative effort using trained case workers and the courts, funded by a $283,000 federal grant channeled through the State Department of Corrections.

"A lot of these folks don't have family who can help them anymore and they really need more help in negotiating all the different aspects of life," Judge Gosselin said.

State Corrections Department Health Services Director William Kissel said H-E-L-P signals a new approach to treating the chronic mentally ill who end up in jail.

"Our goal is to divert folks with serious mental health issues who we feel are not a public safety risk if they receive appropriate mental health services," Kissel said.

Kissel said the program also includes providing support services such as housing, mental health treatment and job assistance.