There is help. There is hope.
That’s the message area providers want to resonate this May with the community as Mental Health Awareness Month comes at a time when the region has seen multiple tragic losses in recent weeks.
“How do we come together as a community, that’s what this is about,” said Christina Cunningham, director of the Behavioral Health Crisis Center at FCC Behavioral Health.
SEMO Behavioral Health, FCC Behavioral Health and Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center are coordinating with other providers during May to open up the conversation about suicide prevention, raise awareness of the help available, reduce the stigma residents may feel in having these conversations, and call the community to action in this battle.
But they know sometimes that first step, saying that word aloud — suicide — can be terrifying, both for the person who is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, and for family and friends who are concerned someone they love might be thinking about self-harm.
Their advice is simple — come to us, come to someone, and let’s talk. We can help. There is help.
“We just want you to come through the door and we’re going to help,” said Raliegh Abell, clinical director of SEMO Behavioral Health. “There are all kinds of agencies in the community that will help you... get to your church... your primary care doctor... reach out and give anybody a call, come by one of our offices. There are all kinds of resources out there.”
It can be uncomfortable, being vulnerable enough to start these conversations, said Cunningham. But we need to check on our friends, neighbors and co-workers, especially if we’ve noticed a change in their behavior, she said. And we need to reach out for help, when help is needed.
“Come on in. You’ll get seen that day if you’re in crisis,” Cunningham said.
The struggle with mental wellness is prevalent all over the United States, but is especially significant in Southeast Missouri, said Randy DeProw, director of behavioral health for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.
“It’s something that needs exploring by each one of us,” DeProw said. “Oftentimes it’s something an individual who’s experiencing some mental health crisis or issues, that’s something they’re either embarrassed about or ashamed of. ... The most important thing we can do as individuals looking to help our loved one or family member... or just a friend, is to be supportive and to take the next step, to try and encourage that individual to get treatment.”
Individuals who are struggling may feel like no help is available, nothing can be changed, or might be embarrassed about what they’re dealing with, DeProw said.
“Treatment is available,” he said.
How to start the conversation
In many cases, it isn’t easy to begin talking about mental wellness concerns or crises, health officials acknowledge.
They suggest starting with a simple question of, “How are you doing?”, or “I’ve noticed something,” like a change in behavior that you’re concerned about. Be prepared to listen without judgment.
Issues might become more evident when seasons change, DeProw said, explaining seasonal affective disorder can cause an increase in depression when there are fewer daylight hours.
An individual might be interacting in a different way when they’re struggling, such as being less likely to make eye contact, and showing little or no emotion.
Mood swings, a lack of personal hygiene, isolating, even a sudden upswing in mood, can also be indicators of an issue, Abell said.
“Once you establish there is an issue, you should never be afraid to say, ‘Hey, are you okay.’ It opens the door for a lot of communication,” DeProw said. “Communication is absolutely vital whenever you’re dealing with mental illness because it’s something that could be hid very, very easily.
“Never be afraid to ask the question, how are you doing? Or is there anything I can do for you? Or is there something you’d like to talk about?”
Cunningham agrees.
“People are in pain. There is suffering going on,” she said. “We really need everyone to take action, just to check up on your loved ones, your co-workers, your neighbors, your friends. If you’re worried about someone, take a minute and reach out.”
What do you do next?
PBRMC and crisis programs like FCC and SEMO Behavioral Health offer many services.
“Just to get the person to the spot where they will seek help is the absolute most important thing that you can do,” DeProw said.
Help may mean scheduling an appointment to see a mental health professional, or, if the need is more urgent, simply going to one of the area facilities.
“Crisis intervention, you can walk into those places and get the help that you need,” DeProw said. “Beyond that, if you encourage the person to either go to the hospital, the nearest ER, or our particular hospital, we will direct admit from the (emergency department) directly to our unit, so the time they have to spend in the emergency department is minimal.”
What if they’re not ready to accept help?
If you are concerned about a loved one, but that person isn’t ready to reach out themselves, you can reach out to mental health professionals for advice.
DeProw said anyone can call the helplines about problems they are having, or a loved one is having, in addition to the facilities mentioned here.
“The best thing for a patient is for them to be willing to get the help and support them to the point where we get them with the proper resources and begin treatment,” DeProw said, adding later, “Just to be there and be supportive... The value that adds to what you’re doing is beyond expression.”
Beyond that, mental health professionals can also provide other help.
Hotline resources
In Southeast Missouri, a regional MOCARS Crisis Line is available at 800-356-5396. This is the number for Access Crisis Intervention, which provides access to services for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. By calling the hotline, individuals have access to behavioral health crisis services that are free and available to both youth and adults.
All calls are strictly confidential. The hotlines are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by behavioral health professionals who are available to provide assistance.
Assistance may include phone contact, referrals to resources in the community, next-day behavioral health appointments, or a mobile response. Mobile is defined as either going to the location of the crisis, or another secure community location.
A National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available at 800-273-TALK(8255).
There is a MOSAFE crisis text line at 741741.
The Veterans Crisis Line can be reached at 800-273-TALK(8255) and pressing 1. Text for this crisis line is available at 838255.
An interactive map that will help Missouri residents locate mental health services is available on the Missouri Department of Mental Health website at https://buff.ly/3FyiEbE.
Local resources
Just come in, say professionals with FCC Behavioral Health, SEMO Behavioral Health and PBRMC.
Someone at their facilities will help.
PBRMC can provide in-hospital treatment, with help finding medication to stabilize an individual experiencing a crisis.
The hospital has a 40-bed unit, typically for patients between the ages of 18 and 55, although medically stable patients who are older can also be accepted.
The goal is to help someone in crisis stabilize, through medication and/or therapy as needed. Individuals can self-admit themselves, and may also be court ordered to be admitted.
PBRMC is also in collaboration with groups like FCC daily to help their patients find additional resources and wrap-around services.
FCC Behavioral Health offers a wide range of services for both youth and adults. These are available on-site at locations around southern Missouri, and also through a growing range of telehealth services.
Some individuals may need help dealing with trauma, for instance, and would receive services specialized to that need, according to Craig Jameson, public relations officer with FCC.
“We meet the community where they’re at,” he said. “We have programs that will (help) individuals temporarily, get them insured, get them covered, get them long-term success. We offer wrap-around services as much as possible.
“There are a lot of different needs in our community. But when it comes to approach, the more person-centered is better, it’s something we develop based on what they need.”
The first thing FCC does is a quick screening to determine if an individual is in crisis and needs help immediately, or if they need to be scheduled for future appointments, said Ashley Lutton, FCC director of behavioral health clinics in Butler and Carter counties.
Care can be provided on-site or through telehealth, she said. Telehealth can also be done from the individual’s home or from an FCC facility.
“We’re able to use lots of different virtual services to be able to set that up to where it needs to be,” Lutton said. “We meet them where they’re at.”
FCC can also connect individuals with peer support groups, so they talk with others who have or are experiencing the same things.
“We want our communities and our neighbors to know there are resources out there. If you are in a dark place, or if you’re dealing with depression or anxiety, and you feel like there is no one there, we want them to know there are resources available. I think that is our biggest role right there,” Lutton said.
SEMO Behavioral Health helps those who have substance abuse issues, as well as any co-occurring mental health issues.
That said, Abell explained, they will make sure anyone who comes through the doors finds help, either with them or with another facility.
“You’re gonna go through a number of assessments when you get here, and the primary task is to see what the primary thing is we’ve got to do,” he said.
Help again may include therapy, group therapy, medication, classes offering coping skills or other needs, and any combination of those.
“Let’s take the word mental health out of this. If you had a heart attack, your family would fall all over themselves to get you to the doctor,” Abell said. “Because this is mental health... there is such a stigma of mental health. People are ashamed. They think it’s their fault.”
By creating awareness and being open to talking about it, individuals, their loved ones and the public can help change that, he believes.
How do we remove the stigma?
Awareness and open communication will help make this a subject people begin to feel more comfortable talking about, DeProw said.
“I’ve been doing this for 14 years. In my family, all my grandkids, my kids, mom, dad, they’re all aware of what I do for a living and it’s something that’s talked about,” said DeProw.
That’s what he would like to see in the community, in everyday life, as well.
“Communication is absolutely paramount whenever we begin to think about individuals that might be suffering from mental illness, because that’s what’s lacking,” he said.
Recovery is not short-term, Abell said. Once an individual has begun to find help, whether it’s through therapy, medication or both, they may still have long-term needs and struggles.
Local experts say that data lags behind the real-time problem when it comes to suicide.
Based on 2016 information, the Missouri Department of Mental Health reports that one person dies every seven hours from suicide in Missouri. It was the 10th leading cause of death overall in the state, and the number one cause of death for 10-17-year-olds. It was the second leading cause of death among 18-34-year-olds.
“We’ve seen an increase and, of course (increase of) acuity, in the number of people that are coming for help, not just in our unit, but all over our region,” DeProw said.
DeProw said his facility has seen an exacerbation of depression and other mental health issues following two years of the COVID pandemic.
“The acuteness of their illness is more significant, more severe, and, quite honestly, it’s taken a little longer to get them back to baseline than what it did in the past,” he said. “So, it’s some really, really challenging stuff as far as what we’re doing and what the future might hold.”
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