CINCINNATI (WKRC) – May is Mental Health Month, and local organizations across the region are highlighting resources available for people struggling with mental health, addiction, and trauma.
Several groups took part in a special edition of “What’s Happening in Health,” including Community Health Alliance, which serves patients in Butler and Warren counties. Sojourner Recovery Services is a key part of the organization and helps people with addiction or substance abuse issues.
May is Mental Health Month, and local organizations across the region are highlighting resources available for people struggling with mental health, addiction, and trauma. (WKRC)
“We are going to treat you as an individual for what level of care you really need,” said Rebecca Dickersheid, executive director of Sojourner Recovery Services. “So, we range from residential treatment to outpatient.”
Community Health Alliance also runs one of 19 centers in Ohio that answers calls from 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
NewPath Child & Family Solutions also participated, focusing on children and young adults in the area, particularly those dealing with trauma. Officials said an initial assessment is key to determining how to treat each patient because circumstances vary.
“Every client’s journey is different, so a child with, depending on their diagnosis, needs different things, as well as the family, based on their social determinants of health, which may need other things as well, so we really try to provide case management based on that,” said Sarah Hughes, director of programs at NewPath Child & Family Solutions.
NewPath serves children from 5 to 25 years old and has a walk-in clinic designed to connect people with help right away.
Central Clinic Behavioral Health, an outpatient treatment center, also emphasized the importance of considering a client’s overall situation.
“So mental health is really total wellness. I think of mental health and behavioral health and medical health as all the same. Mind, body, spirit. We need to take care of the entire package,” said Dr. Kimberly Mages, president and CEO of Central Clinic.
Coe, an adult services client at Central Clinic for more than 30 years, said group therapy and connecting with others has been meaningful.
“Central Clinic has really helped me discover myself and my self-awareness of being able to determine when I need to rest or what’s going on with me,” Coe said.
The Lindner Center of Hope also offers a range of services, including inpatient and outpatient treatment. After treatment, officials said support from family and friends is critical to long-term success.
“What are the supports the person has in their life? We know that psychosocial support is extremely important for recovery,” said Dr. Michael Groat, president and CEO of Lindner Center of Hope. “So, we’re going to look at what array of supports a person has available to them and help them identify additional support so they can stay on a path of recovery.”
More of this important conversation on mental health will air on “What’s Happening in Health” on Sunday, May 17, at 6:30 a.m. on Local 12.