Next week, the state Department of Correction will debut a new wellness hotline for incarcerated individuals, as part of its response to a recent rash of suicides at two of its prisons.

The DOC’s existing contracted health care provider, VitalCore Health Strategies , will operate the overnight hotline from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., scheduled to roll out Dec. 1 across all facilities.

DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins said the new resource will provide “direct access to qualified mental and medical health professionals when concerns arise and strengthen the continuum of mental health services already in place to support individuals in our care.”

“This added resource improves our ability to identify and respond promptly to individuals in need of support,” he said.

Meanwhile, advocates for the in

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