On July 16, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched in Kansas and across the U.S. In June, Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill to provide funding and regulation for the hotline. 988 is specifically designed to be used in instances where a person is experiencing a behavioral health or substance use crisis.
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.
On Sunday, May 1, Wyandot Behavioral Health Network became a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). Wyandot BHN is one of the first six community mental health centers in the state of Kansas to achieve this designation.
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.
In the interest of the safety of our consumers & staff, Wyandot BHN is moving all outpatient and community-based clinical services to telehealth on Thursday, March 10. All 24/7 and crisis services will remain open.
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.
It has been almost two years since the COVID-19 pandemic turned our lives upside-down. We’ve missed out on family gatherings and dinners with friends. Attending concerts and sporting events have become a distant memory. And we’ve missed out on a host of milestone moments, including graduations and the births of grandbabies.
Now that the Omicron surge appears to be slowing down, we are once again faced with decisions about how and when to resume normal activities and routines. If this transition is leading to feelings of anxiety rather than excitement, you are not alone.
Our Wyandot family is mourning the loss of Rita Hoag, a longtime mental health advocate who served as Chairperson of our Western Wyandotte Advisory Council for 15 years. Rita passed away in January after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Due to the forecast for Wednesday, February 2, Wyandot BHN is moving all outpatient services to telehealth. The adult crisis lobby at Wyandot Center (1301 N. 47th Street) will remain open and walk-in children’s crisis services will be available at PACES (7840 Washington Avenue).
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.
