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Professionals encourage people to seek help through Banner Health's behavioral health services

Greeley Tribune - 5/13/2023

May 12—In the wake of a mental health crisis across the nation, there is an increasing need in the northern Colorado community for a one-stop shop for behavioral health services.

At northern Colorado Banner Health hospitals — Greeley, Loveland and Fort Collins — behavioral health help is available to all ages. Thanks to the staff, that help can continue past a hospital stay.

"With the increasing need in our community, we want people to know Banner offers a continuum of care from the ER to an inpatient setting," Banner's Director of Behavioral Health Services Victoria Cordova said.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, medical professionals want community members to know there are local resources to help save lives, whether a person is having a behavioral health crisis, is experiencing new mental health symptoms or has questions about treatment.

But getting help is the most important step to take in any mental health journey.

The first stop

If a person is facing a behavioral health crisis, such as suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, hearing voices or more, Banner Health's emergency departments are the place to go, according to Banner Health psychiatrist Ronny Meunier.

While in the department, a behavioral health crisis assessment takes place to decide the next steps of care, which differ depending on the diagnosis.

Cordova said diagnoses include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or post-traumatic stress disorder.

"In the emergency department, we can see absolutely any mental health diagnosis," Cordova said. "If there's concern or worry, there's never a wrong time to go to be seen."

Next steps: Individualized care

Patients who are safe to return back into the community after an ER visit leave with a safety plan filled with resources, which includes important numbers to have on hand, information about how to stay safe and outpatient resources in the community such as therapy, psychiatry and support groups.

Another avenue includes referring patients to detox or substance abuse treatment in another Banner Health department, if needed.

In some cases, patients are unable to safely return home and are referred to inpatient behavioral health services at Banner's McKee Medical Center, 2000 Boise Ave., in Loveland.

McKee Medical Center began offering inpatient behavioral health services more than three years ago, Cordova said. During COVID-19, the inpatient facility could only hold eight patients at a time. Now, the facility is at full capacity with 17 beds available.

Since its opening, clinical improvements, feedback and re-admission rates have shown the success of the inpatient facility.

Unit staff members look for differences such as improvement in symptoms among people when they are first admitted compared to when they're ready for discharge, Meunier said.

Cordova said rating scales, filled out at the beginning of admission and then again at discharge, are compared. Typically, those scores show a significant reduction in symptoms among patients.

Staff also requests feedback from patients about how helpful their experience was, which is largely positive, according to Meunier.

Another important factor that helps determine the inpatient program's success is if people come back after they are discharged. Meunier said Banner is continually trying to improve these re-admission rates with different measures such as longer-lasting medications or improving programs that help people transition from inpatient to outpatient care.

Before determining treatment approaches and success, behavioral health staff must accurately diagnose the psychiatric disorder so they can apply the proper treatment and right tools, according to Meunier.

"Right diagnosis, right treatment," he said.

In in-patient services, depending on the person and diagnosis, various forms of medication may be the best form of treatment. But there is also the therapeutic side of treatment.

Getting stabilized and reducing symptoms are two important factors of care, but Banner Health staff also puts patients' focus on themselves, away from the stress of the outside world, according to Cordova.

"What I always tell patients is, our goal is for your feet to feel firmly planted on solid ground," Cordova said.

A therapy team of nurses, therapists and case managers then help patients with social services, including getting resources in the community, assisting with follow-ups, setting up appointments with therapists and psychiatrists or sending them to an outpatient program.

When stepping down to Banner's intensive outpatient program, it's an extension of the care patients have been receiving, according to Cordova. Patients continue to receive about 10-11 hours a week of mental health support while in the outpatient program.

Mental Health Awareness

A mental health crisis has formed throughout the nation, according to Meunier, but why it's happening is the big question. Factors such as social media or rising substance abuse can be to blame.

Awareness of mental health and encouraging people to get help is one way to benefit those struggling, while also eliminating a harmful stigma.

Care is available for physical health, such as a heart or kidney problem, Meunier pointed out, but there is no stigma surrounding those diagnoses

"Why should there be a stigma for mental health when the brain is another organ in our bodies?" he asked.

Cordova said mental health diagnoses are "no different" than other medical diagnoses. Mental health can be compared to other aspects of the medical field, she said, which normalizes the need for behavioral health services.

Along with 911, there is now an option to call "988" for mental health-related calls. This helps bridge that gap to show mental health is just as important as physical health.

Suicide prevention has also been on the rise across the United States with more and more people becoming equipped to help a suicidal person in a time of need.

"Suicide prevention is the heart attack of mental health," Cordova said. "One of the symptoms or results of a mental health issue is death by suicide."

There are things people can do to prevent suicide, just like any other health problem. Similar to when CPR is used to help someone if their heart stops working, there is also QPR: Question, Persuade and Refer, an emergency response that helps people learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help.

"They've really mimicked it after the idea of CPR," Cordova said. "Showing that it is another medical emergency that we as community members need to equip ourselves with to help save a life."

A person should seek professional help if they are experiencing unbearable stress, debilitating anxiety, chronic depression, manic episodes, paranoia, irritability, auditory or visual hallucinations or thoughts of self-harm or suicide, a Banner Health news release said.

Don't put off symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts or voices telling you to do things that are new, Meunier said. Those symptoms are considered emergencies.

"We are here to help people," Meunier said.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or Banner Health's line at (800) 254-4357.

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