Wyandot BHN has long held Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) as a priority. However, for far too long, our commitment to DEI has not been documented in a formal, public manner. As we begin our 70th anniversary celebration and continue to put a greater emphasis on diversity and cultural competency, we are pleased to share our new DEI statement.
Wyandot Behavioral Health Network has been fortunate to be able to serve the Wyandotte County community for seven decades. And as 2022 draws to a close, we are launching a year of celebrations – commemorating 70 years of service to the community.
Late last month, the suicide death of a young Wisconsin news anchor made headlines. Neena Pacholke was just 27 years old. Tragically, suicide continues to claim too many lives.
In Kansas, someone dies by suicide every 16 hours, according to Kansas Suicide Prevention Headquarters (KSPHQ). Suicide was the 9th leading cause of death in Kansas in 2019.
Creating a team that can provide compassionate, culturally competent care requires that diverse voices and perspectives be present at all levels. When diverse voices have a seat at the table, their lived experiences and knowledge put an organization in a much better position to stay in tune with the needs of the community.
July is Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month, also known as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. The month, much like its namesake, is dedicated to highlighting and improving the mental health of diverse communities. But in order to improve mental health in the BIPOC community, we first have to seek to understand and respect the unique stressors and barriers they live with, which impact their access to mental health services.
When tragedy strikes, it is normal to want to understand why it happened. Being able to pinpoint the “why” can sometimes provide a degree of comfort and give us something to focus on as we work to prevent a similar tragedy from happening in the future. But this can often lead to finger pointing about who or what is to blame for tragedies.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a time to raise awareness and help reduce the stigma associated with mental health. We know that nearly 1 in 5 American adults will experience a mental illness in a given year. Yet for so many people, talking openly about mental health and seeking treatment still feels out of reach. No one should have to tackle the challenges of mental illness alone. This is why awareness is so important.
As much as we perhaps wish it wasn’t, stress is a natural part of life. It comes at us from nearly every angle. The pressures of work, family, finances… it can feel overwhelming. While stress may be unavoidable, that doesn’t mean we should let stress go unchecked. When stress is allowed to rule our lives, it can cause significant physical and mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Creating healthy minds, healthy lives and a thriving community. That is our vision. To make that happen, we need to make mental health resources and support easily accessible for everyone in a place that is comfortable and close to home. And I’m proud to say that Wyandot BHN is embarking on a new endeavor to make that happen.
Black History Month is a time to learn and reflect. And this year’s theme, Black Health and Wellness, has been particularly impactful for me and has increased my desire to learn more about the often overlooked contributions that Black scholars and practitioners have made to the fields of physical and behavioral health. This theme has also caused me to stop and reflect on how systemic racism continues to persist in our physical and behavioral health systems.
We often hear that strong and resilient people have the capacity to bend but not break in the face of adversity or trauma. And it is true that some people bring a deep reservoir of strength to whatever crisis they may face, emerging from it seemingly unscathed.