Behavioral health providers in the Denver metro area are tapping new technologies to ensure people with acute mental health needs don't fall through the cracks and put themselves and communities at risk of violence and even death.
Bill Henricks, president and CEO of the nonprofit behavioral health provider AllHealth Network, said the number of people with severe mental illness is on the rise and too many families do not know where to turn in times of crisis.
"They need to be able to count on the system to be able to support them in their greatest time of need," Henricks contended. "They need to keep their loved ones safe, they need to keep the community safe, they need to keep the person with mental illness safe. And we can do better."
A pilot program in the state's 23rd judicial district aims to fill gaps in the current system by using software to better track individuals' compliance with court ordered treatment to enhance individuals' well-being and community safety. If patients fall out of compliance, the software can alert responsible parties -- including law enforcement when appropriate -- and direct patients to care.
Frank Cornelia, deputy executive director of the Colorado Behavioral Health Care Council, explained people with severe mental illness sometimes require involuntary support to achieve recovery. But he said even though demand is on the rise, more mental health professionals, funding for safety net providers and other supports are needed to address the scale of the problem.
"We see every day increasing numbers of individuals living unhoused, often struggling with persistent mental illness and associated substance use disorders," Cornelia observed. "The existing system is strained to support these ongoing and growing challenges."
Before the 1980s, most individuals brought before the judicial system would have been placed in psychiatric facilities for supervised care but Henricks noted most facilities have closed or lack capacity.
"There's nowhere else for them to go," Henricks emphasized. "Our jails are already full of people with severe and persistent mental illness. We need to provide effective treatment to keep them functioning in society as best we can."
get more stories like this via email
As winter drags on with a recent rare burst of snow across North Florida, many Floridians struggle with seasonal affective disorder.
It is a form of depression triggered by shorter days and less sunlight. Mental health professionals across the state are offering practical strategies to help people cope, emphasizing the importance of light exposure, social engagement and seeking professional support.
Judy Charuhas, clinical director of outpatient services for Impower, a Florida-based telehealth provider, said simple acts of kindness can boost a person's mood and emotional well-being.
"Melatonin helps us feel better. Serotonin, endorphins -- when your endorphins get going -- you feel better," Charuhas outlined. "One thing people can do with depression that helps more than anything else is do something for someone else."
A recent study showed 40% of Americans say their mood drops in the winter, 41% are sleeping more, 28% feel fatigued and 27% report experiencing depression.
Lourdes Araujo, president of the Florida Counseling Association, recommended a light therapy box, which mimics sunlight exposure, for those experiencing symptoms.
"If the sunlight goes away, you can extend that time by using this sunlight exposure approach," Araujo explained. "It's really proven to be helpful with depressive symptoms."
She also encouraged cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to challenge negative thoughts and set realistic goals.
Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer and executive vice president of UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, stressed the importance of maintaining social connections and leveraging available mental health resources.
"People who have strong social connections actually live longer," Randall pointed out. "When we think about longevity and quality of life, those strong ties to friends and family are very good to our health."
Randall added many insurance plans offer mental health benefits such as virtual therapy, coaching and digital self-help tools, which can be convenient options for those who struggle during the winter months.
Disclosure: UnitedHealthcare contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
click here.
get more stories like this via email
Some 125,000 children in Michigan struggle with major depression, which can hinder learning, behavior and relationships, according to a recent survey. Research shows the benefits of school-based services to connect them with the care they need.
Together with parents, school mental health resources can help keep kids safe.
Scott Hutchins, who manages the behavioral health unit for the Michigan Department of Education, stresses the importance of these services, especially in light of the pandemic and school shootings.
"Those needs have only been exacerbated since COVID and those other violent tragedies," he said. "So, what mental-health services do is, they allow us to break down the barriers that students need to get the care that they need."
However, the state needs more of these professionals. Michigan has one school psychologist per almost 2,200 students. The recommended ratio is one for every 500 students. The state also requires school districts to include suicide-prevention hotline contact information on IDs for students in grades 7 through 12.
Statistics show youths receiving school-based mental-health services are six times more likely to complete treatment than those receiving community-based services.
Angela Kimball, chief advocacy officer for the nonprofit mental health advocacy group Inseparable, noted that funding is one key challenge in expanding the school mental-health workforce.
"In order to become a licensed professional," she said, "you not only have to pay for schooling, but there's also periods of supervision - where people are essentially working for free and having to pay for supervision as they work towards their credentials."
Kimball said groups like hers are pushing for policies to improve staff ratios and encourage people to consider mental-health careers. In the meantime, if you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to be connected with a trained counselor, available 24/7.
Disclosure: Inseparable contributes to our fund for reporting on Criminal Justice, Health Issues, Mental Health, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
click here.
get more stories like this via email
About half of youths experiencing depression in Illinois are not receiving treatment. While the state ranks fairly well nationwide when it comes to youth mental health, officials say there is room for improvement.
Andrea Durbin, CEO, Illinois Collaboration on Youth, said anxiety and depression are at an all-time high, especially with LGBTQ youths and those in immigrant families.
"This is a time for us to be compassionate and empathetic and to embrace folks who are feeling this way and to be supportive, and understand where this is coming from and what our responsibility as adults is to protect them," she said.
The state's Children's Behavioral Healthcare Transformation Initiative passed in 2022. It emphasizes the importance of proactive mental-health screening in schools, similar to vision and hearing tests. Now, a new state law requires yearly mental-health screenings for seventh through 12th grade students.
Despite this progress, barriers to community-based mental-health services for youths still exist and include cost, transportation, insurance issues and stigma.
Angela Kimball, chief advocacy officer with Inseparable, said school-based services that provide different levels of support are one of the most effective tools for supporting student mental health and improving access to care.
"We are starting to see some improvements in student mental health, and that's very encouraging, but the need is still very, very high," she explained. "So we can't let our foot off the pedal now. We really need to do everything we can to build the workforce and to make sure students are supported."
She said youth who get school-based services are six times more likely to complete treatment and have improved long-term education and work outcomes. Yet currently, most state schools don't have the recommended ratio of mental-health staff to students. State-funded programs such as the Behavioral Health Workforce Center are working to address the provider shortage. Kimball added that state policies and initiatives that continue to provide solutions to any roadblocks to mental-health services are crucial to providing youths the care they need.
Disclosure: Inseparable contributes to our fund for reporting on Criminal Justice, Health Issues, Mental Health, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
click here.
get more stories like this via email