Mobile health units aim to address mental health, addiction, and gun violence in Kentucky
ER AND URGENT CARE CENTER IN THE REGION. A NEW TOOL IS TACKLING SOME OF KENTUCKY’S MOST PRESSINGG ISSUES MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION AND GUN VIOLENCE. JOYCE OGIRRI SHOWS US HOW NEW MOBILE HEALTH UNITS ARE MAKING A LIFESAVING DIFFERENCE. WHETHER IN URBAN COMMUNITIES OR RURAL AREAS. ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND CRISIS SERVICES STILL REMAINS A MAJOR CHALLENGE. THAT’S WHY MOBILE UNITS LIKE THIS ONE COULD BE A GAME CHANGER. DELIVERING CRITICAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST. WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE WHEN THEY’RE IN A CRISIS, THEY HAVE SUPPORT, NOT CONSTRAINTS. IN A PUSH TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, SEVEN COUNTY SERVICES IS ROLLING OUT TWO MOBILE HEALTH UNITS. THE GOAL TO CLOSE GAPS IN CARE BY PROVIDING IMMEDIATE HELP ACROSS JEFFERSON AND SIX SURROUNDING COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY. THERE’S NOT ENOUGH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS TO GO AROUND IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE’VE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE HAND OFF TO ONE ANOTHER. THEY WILL ALSO PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. PEOPLE DON’T OFTEN HAVE A SECOND OR THIRD CHANCE TO ACCESS SERVICES. WHEN YOU HAVE SUBSTANCES THAT ARE THAT LETHAL, WHAT THIS DOES IS PUTUT US IN THOSE COMMUNITIE. THEY KNOW HOW TO USE A GUN LOCK, HOW TO USE NARCAN, WHO YOU CALL IF YOU’RE CONCERNED ABOUT A LOVED ONE OR YOU’RE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH. SO THE NEED IS THERE. INSIDE EACH UNIT, TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WILL OFFER CRISIS PREVENTION, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND SUBSTANCE SUPPORT TO PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS. THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE. SOMETIMES WE SEND OUT ONE PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST AND A LICENSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDER. SEVEN COUNTY SERVICES HOPES THESE MOBILE UNITS WILL BECOME A LIFELINENE FOR FAMILIES IN CRIS. IT IMPACTS ALL OF US AND SO WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND SEE THOSE NUMBERS
Mobile health units aim to address mental health, addiction, and gun violence in Kentucky
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