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October is a month where many important topics are observed, and awareness is raised. October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, National Health Literacy Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ADHD Awareness Month, National Depression Month and Mental Health Screening Month. In addition, Cerebral Palsy Day is in October, along with World Mental Health Day, to name a few.
Being a mental health professional, it is not uncommon to see depression as well as other heavy feelings rise as the season changes from warm, long summer days to shorter, cooler days. This change can be extremely touchy for many. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a real condition where people feel more down during the fall and winter months due to reduced sunlight. It can help to try and maintain a routine, get outside during daylight hours and stay connected with friends and family. If you’re feeling particularly low, it might be worth talking to a mental health professional. They can offer support and strategies to help manage the changes in mood.
Many people have felt down, or flat out sad or depressed. It is important to know the difference between feeling down and being depressed in order to effectively assess the level of support that may be most beneficial to you! While everyone experiences depression differently, some common signs include a Persistent Sadness or Low Mood. This can simply be feeling down, empty or hopeless most of the time. Loss of Interest. Losing interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including social interactions, hobbies or work. Changes in Appetite or Weight. Significant weight loss or gain, or changes in eating habits can be a sign of depression. Sleep Disturbances. Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or sleeping too much can also signal there is a problem that should be looked at. Feeling Tired or Have Little Energy, Difficulty Concentrating, Feelings of Worthlessness or Guilt. Isolation and thoughts of being unalive or harming yourself are all signs of depression and should not be taken lightly. If you or someone you know is experiencing several of these signs for a prolonged period, it’s important to reach out for professional help. Depression is a treatable condition, and support is available.
With October being Depression Awareness Month, in addition to Mental Health Screening Awareness Month, Kay County GRAND Mental Health Operational director, Samantha Goodno, MS, provided education regarding Kay County’s community mental health screening process, as well as available services. According to Goodno, a potential consumer can go to GRANDmh.com to make a referral and within 24 hours from the time the referral is made, someone from GRAND’s referral team will make contact to the potential consumer. If no one responds, the referral team will continue to attempt contact for 10 consecutive days for a follow up to make sure that you’re still interested in services. If a screening is scheduled and the individual doesn’t show up for the screening, contact will be attempted with that person for 10 more consecutive days to make sure the individual is still interested in services. Once a screening is complete, the individual will leave that day with a follow-up appointment for therapy services and an appointment with a GRAND nurse and medical provider to assess overall health potential need for medication to further support mental health. For adults, once a screening is complete, they will be assigned a therapist, a care coordinator (case manager) and a peer recovery support specialist. For children completing a screening, they will leave with an assigned therapist, care coordinator and depending on the severity of need, they will also be assigned a family support provider and a behavioral health wellness coach.
One of the amazing things GRAND mental health provides is behavioral health wellness coaches (BHC). These are highly trained GRAND employees who work solely in the school and classroom setting. Many of the schools in Kay County have a GRAND BHC in the school, and it is our desire to have one in every school so that the mental health and behavioral needs of each student are well taken care of. Each school is assigned a team consisting of a therapist and a care coordinator and for rural towns, that team can complete screens and intakes for new clients that aren’t able to make it to a clinic to complete the screening process. Most recently, Goodno states that, “GRAND rented out a mini-tour van that stopped in rural towns in the county, such as Perkins, Cushing, Tonkawa, Newkirk and Pawnee where therapists and other mental health professionals completed screens for those who could not make it into a clinic. Many who did not have time to complete a screen that day left with an appointment scheduled to get one done!”
Sometimes there are mental health crises, and those clients are never turned away. GRAND ensures they are taken to an urgent recovery center where they will be wrapped with 24-hour care until they are in a safe mental space to safely be released. GRAND has something to offer everyone no matter the level of need. Walk-ins are always welcome from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Goodno states, “If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance of any kind, please reach out to us at our crisis line – 1-800-722-3611. It’s 24/7, so you can call at any point, any day, even on the weekends! If you need to talk to someone or know of someone who could benefit from our services, please don’t hesitate to make a referral online at GRANDmh.com.”
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