Oklahoma City experts see huge demand for mental health services
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE. WE’RE EXPERIENCING A POST COVID MENTAL HEALTH ENDEMIC EPIDEMIC, IF…
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE. WE’RE EXPERIENCING A POST COVID MENTAL HEALTH ENDEMIC EPIDEMIC, IF YOU WILL. THE MENTAL HEALTH TOWN HALL WAS HELD AT FIFTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH. EVER SINCE I WAS MY EARLY 30S, I HAVE SOLVED AND BEEN PART OF SOME TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND AWARENESS. PEOPLE LEARNED ABOUT RESOURCES TO HELP THEMSELVES OR SOMEONE ELSE IN A MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO WHEN THEY’RE IN CRISIS. WHAT ARE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY CAN CALL AND GET INTO TREATMENT AND KNOW WHAT TO DO? THE PANEL DISCUSSION FEATURED SPEAKERS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE AND LICENSED THERAPISTS HAVE IN COMMON IS ONE THING, BUT ALSO PROVIDED THEIR RESOURCES. THIS IS ANOTHER THING RANDY WITH NORTH POINT GAVE ME INSIGHT ON WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL. HE’S IN CHARGE OF NORTH CARE, A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITY. WE REALLY HAVE WORKFORCE SHORTAGES WHERE ILL PREPARED FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, HE TOLD ME. SIMPLY MORE PERSONNEL WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE SINCE THE PANDEMIC. THERE’S BEEN HUGE DEMAND FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND COUNSELING. WE DO NEED TO BEGIN GRADUATING MORE PEOPLE IN THE ENTIRE ARRAY OF OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES EVERY EVERYTHING FROM CASE MANAGERS TO LICENSED THERAPIST PRESCRIBERS. OKC DOES HAVE A NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. THE 908 NUMBER SET UP IN THE LAST YEAR IS ONE OF THEM. PANEL MEMBERS ALSO SAY MOST COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE FREE COUNSELING, BUT SOME THINK MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR FAMILIES. AND I THINK SOMETIMES NEED THE FAMILIES OUT THERE. FAMILIES ARE IMPACTED BY MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION JUST LIKE THEY ARE IN OTHER DISEASE OR ANY OTHER FAMILY ILLNESS. STAFF FROM OKC PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAY THEY HAVE MULTI DISCIPLINES. THREE TEAMS THAT CAN TALK WITH STUDENTS AND DO EVALUATIONS TO SEE HOW TO HELP THEM BEST. BUT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOLS, MY ORGANIZATION IS ONE OF SEVERAL THAT ACTUALLY HAS PEOPLE WORKING 24 OVER SEVEN 365 TO BE DISPATCHED FROM THE 988 NUMBER TO GO OUT AND ASSIST PEOPLE IN CRISIS
Oklahoma City experts see huge demand for mental health services
Industry leaders in held a town hall meeting where they spoke about mental health care
Updated: 10:22 PM CDT Jun 5, 2023
It’s an important time for mental health across the country, and in Oklahoma City, experts said they’re seeing a huge demand for services.Industry leaders in held a town hall meeting where they spoke about mental health care. “We’re experiencing a post-COVID mental health-idemic, or epidemic, if you will,” said Randy Tate, the CEO of Northcare, a behavioral health facility.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The mental health town hall was held at Fifth Street Baptist Church. People learned about resources to help themselves or someone else in a mental health emergency.”Where people can go when they’re in crisis, and what are the organizations they can call to get treatment, and what they can do,” Tate said.The panel discussion featured speakers from law enforcement, community members and mental health professionals, such as public school representatives and licensed therapists. Tate provided insight into what needs to happen for mental health resources to be more successful.>> Download the KOCO 5 App”We really have workforce shortages, and we’re ill-prepared for the mental health crisis that’s happening right now,” Tate said.OKC has a number of mental health resources, such as the 988 number, set up last year. Panel members also said most colleges and universities have free counseling, but some think more needs to be done for families.Staff from OKC Public Schools said they have multi-disciplinary teams that can talk with students and do evaluations to see how to help them best. “My organization is one of several that actually has people working 24/7, 365 to be dispatched from the 988 number to assist people in crisis,” Tate said.Most importantly, if you need help, reach out. Top HeadlinesPolice respond after OKC resident finds believed artillery shell in gardenTwo dead after vehicle submerges into Lake of the Arbuckles off boat rampResidents describe moments after train derailment in Marlow
It’s an important time for mental health across the country, and in Oklahoma City, experts said they’re seeing a huge demand for services.
Industry leaders in held a town hall meeting where they spoke about mental health care.
“We’re experiencing a post-COVID mental health-idemic, or epidemic, if you will,” said Randy Tate, the CEO of Northcare, a behavioral health facility.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
The mental health town hall was held at Fifth Street Baptist Church. People learned about resources to help themselves or someone else in a mental health emergency.
“Where people can go when they’re in crisis, and what are the organizations they can call to get treatment, and what they can do,” Tate said.
The panel discussion featured speakers from law enforcement, community members and mental health professionals, such as public school representatives and licensed therapists. Tate provided insight into what needs to happen for mental health resources to be more successful.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
“We really have workforce shortages, and we’re ill-prepared for the mental health crisis that’s happening right now,” Tate said.
OKC has a number of mental health resources, such as the 988 number, set up last year. Panel members also said most colleges and universities have free counseling, but some think more needs to be done for families.
Staff from OKC Public Schools said they have multi-disciplinary teams that can talk with students and do evaluations to see how to help them best.
“My organization is one of several that actually has people working 24/7, 365 to be dispatched from the 988 number to assist people in crisis,” Tate said.
Most importantly, if you need help, reach out.
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