Originally published in the Autumn 2024 edition of the Virginia Defender, issue 75, printed November 6. Reproduced here for accessibility and archival purposes. To find other stories in the Autumn 2024 issue or to download the full PDF, see this post. For other issues dating back to 2012, see the Full Issues page.

Free 24/7 advice from a nurse

It’s 3 a.m., your child wakes up and says they aren’t feeling well and you don’t know what to do? “CONSULT A NURSE” is a free, 24/7 hotline that provides professional advice on health issues. Call 833-866-6727.

988 for mental health support

Feeling overwhelmed? Maybe even suicidal? Thanks to federal funding, people in need of mental health support can call 988, the number that connects the caller to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Free legal advice

Legal Aid offices across Virginia offer pro bono (free) help for lowincome individuals facing civil (noncriminal) legal problems. Call 866-534-5243 to reach your local Legal Aid office and find out if you’re eligible.

$35 consultation with an attorney

If you think you have a civil or criminal issue that may require the services of a lawyer, you can call the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service for an up-to-30-minute consultation for a prepaid fee of $35. Statewide, call 800-552- 7977. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Free safety vests

In an effort to reduce pedestrian injuries and deaths, Henrico County is distributing free high-visibility vests to both children and adults. The vests can be picked up at government centers, libraries and police stations. In 2023, the county experienced 87 vehicle crashes involving pedestrians, resulting in nine fatalities, and 23 involving bicyclists, resulting in one fatality.