Several weeks ago, Dr. Grcevich wrote about his experience at the White House Mental Health Summit on December 19, 2019. We wanted to give our readers, especially church and ministry leaders, an opportunity to view the video transcripts of the event, and to learn for themselves how their church can be part of the growing efforts to support individuals and families living with mental illness.
Representatives from the National Association of Counties, national Sheriff’s association, the federal agency SAMHSA, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and Housing and Urban Development secretary Dr. Ben Carson and even Dr. Drew Pinsky spoke about what is being done across a broad swath of agencies and organizations. There were two important themes that emerged, shown below, along with a few examples of each theme. We encourage you to view or read the transcript of the meeting.
Treatment before Tragedy. Early intervention. Break the Cycle.
Police-based mental health providers in Arkansas developed ten-minute mental health evaluations at the time of an individual’s first contact with police. This effort resulted in more accurate early diagnosis of mental health needs and rapid routing of mentally ill individuals to appropriate services. Significant time and cost savings were achieved: for emergency room personnel and hospital services, police man-hours and financial costs, as well as time and money for the person with the mental health need.
SAMHSA has developed crisis stabilization centers, which have resulted in huge financial savings for hospitals and for the toll on human lives. In Georgia, counties are focusing on ‘breaking the cycle’ of mental illness and incarceration that too often go together, by creating Diversion Centers which allow people with mental illness who can’t post bail a bed and wrap-around mental health services for thirty days. Sheriffs in Idaho have developed integrated crisis response and strategies with local mental health programs, to meet the unique mental health needs found in rural states and communities.
Coordination and Creativity
On their own, some ideas don’t accomplish much, but when you put them together, they attain great synergy. Dr. Ben Carson commented that providing housing alone doesn’t solve homelessness, and providing mental health services alone doesn’t solve all the needs associated with mental illness. But when homelessness and mental health needs are addressed together as frequently associated needs, both problems are often made significantly better.
As of December 18, 2019, thirty-five Envision Centers have been established across the US in economically depressed areas. Goals and support address one or more of four pillars: education, economic empowerment, health and wellness and character and leadership. Both private and public sector funding, for profit and non-profit organizations, and respected, established community leaders have a role in the success of these centers.
Other places where mental health treatment is coordinated across multiple government organizations, mental health treatment providers and others, include Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and Recovery Ohio, an advisory council composed of leaders from across the state with diverse personal and professional backgrounds, working together to enhance understanding of the opiod and suicide crisis in Ohio and its impacts.
In Texas, prior to the last few years, there was no coordination of the state money for mental health related services across state agencies. Since Texas established a coordinating counsel, the outcomes for people living with mental illness using state services have been very successful. As of a recent state-wide count, there were only 600 child psychiatrists in the entire state of Texas. Mental health agencies are now working with the sixteen in-state medical schools to leverage the skills of psychiatric residents, and also using telemedicine.
Increasingly, both state and federal public-private-public sector partnerships are being developed for specific goals and projects. Even private citizens are being recruited for their lived experience with mental illness, or expertise in a specific area to serve on boards of new partnerships and ensure all perspectives are taken into account.
What’s the overall takeaway? The federal government is listening and spending tax dollars to improve mental health outcomes across the United States. Likewise, state and local governments are listening and spending tax dollars to meet mental health needs. And that’s very good news for everyone working in the mental health world.
Next steps for churches: connect with your local mental health board, police department or government housing agency. Learn about unmet community needs in the area around your church, and think creatively about how your church can come alongside individuals and families needing a little extra support.
To learn more about starting mental health ministry in your church, click here.
Catherine Boyle is the Director of Mental Health Ministry for Key Ministry. You can follow her work here or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and www.catherineboyle.com.
