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Community mental health offers hope

Daily Press file photo Rudy Kemppainen, the then-board chairman of Pathways Community Mental Health, cuts a ribbon during the dedication of the David O. Schultz Pathways Community Mental Health Center in Escanaba in 2014.

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”

-Aristotle Onassis

They are your family, friends, relatives, and coworkers, and come from all walks of life, all colors, and all creeds. As they walk through those entrance doors of Community Mental Health seeking help, what can be visible reflects where people are in the paths of healing. Some are smiling and self-confident, where others stand at the opposite end of the spectrum. Many are afflicted with mental illness and/or special needs. Their pain, confusion, and other needs appear outlined on their faces, but in truth, it is etched upon their psyches.

Today, in the United States, mental illness impacts one in five people, and there is help, support, and hope for many who suffer. However, on the other hand, years ago those who had a mental illness were placed in institutions. For example, my aunt was institutionalized for many years. I can still vividly remember visiting her at the Newberry State Hospital, where there were cottages that housed a limited number of patients. According to Mary Swift, Pathways CEO, years ago “there was a major shift from institutions to the relocation of patients into their own communities, where they would receive similar services.”

Thus, Pathways (Community Mental Health) was created. By the way, Community Mental Health (CMH) follows State of Michigan rules, laws, and regulations from county to county. Whether they are called Pathways, Northpointe, StarWest, or Hiawatha in the Upper Peninsula or Northern Lakes, LifeWays, etc., in the Lower Peninsula, they are all the same. The mission: “… serve and empower people with severe mental illnesses, severe emotional disturbances, or developmental disabilities to enhance their quality of life.”

It is extremely important to note no one is turned away because of ability to pay. Michael St. John, Clinical Program Supervisor, states that Pathways does not discriminate with the ability to pay, regardless of someone’s insurance, whether private insurance or Medicaid, whether indigent with no insurance, and regardless of insurance status.

The cornerstones of the mission of Community Mental Health are as follows:

1. All information is highly confidential and will not be shared without written consent of the person served, legal guardian, or parent.

2. Pathways personnel will only make recommendations. It is up to the person served to follow through.

3. The services are centered on what is important to the person served. In other words, they make their own determinations.

Referral Process

Patty Webber, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, says, “If we can get them in sooner, we could help them more. Education in the community about mental health is vital in this process.” Therefore, for those who are in need of services, there is self-referral, or family and friends that can also be of assistance. The following are the steps in the admission process:

1. A phone call to NorthCare Access Service (1-888-906-9060). When contacted, there will be a phone screening of the individual that runs from ten to fifteen minutes.

2. The phone screening will determine if there is sufficient reason for an intake. If severe enough, they will refer the consumer to another provider, such as Catholic Social Services, Great Lakes Recovery, and other professionals that provide therapy.

3. On the other hand, if NorthCare determines the individual does qualify, an appointment would be made within fourteen days of the call.

4. However, if it is an emergency, all timelines are waived; services and support are immediately available.

Services

The persons-served care, treatment, and empowerment of choices is paramount. So, how do people who are afflicted with mental illness or disabilities receive treatment and services? First of all, as stated by Swift, “the treatment and therapy are flexible to meet the needs of the person. It is designed to be person-centered, and the goals are to aid in the transition so that the individuals can be as independent as possible.”

The following are but a few, brief descriptions of some of the services offered:

1. Residential services (group homes)

2. Community inpatient (hospitalization)

3. Therapy services (individual or group) using evidence-based practices according to state standards

4. Case management (clinicians/social workers assistance). Every person will be assigned a clinician, who assists with therapy, care plan, housing, social security, advocacy, Medicaid, barriers, etc.

5. Psychological services – Use of a home-based team that consists of a social worker, psychologist, and nurse that will go to the person’s home, where they will receive services

6. Self-determination plan – The person served may choose other services and hire their own staff to assist them with activities in daily life and community access. Pathways will monetarily support that staff.

Dovetailing with the services and treatment is the person’s knowledge and understanding that medication is necessary, but it is not the only therapy. For example, Jenny Ware, RN, mental health, says, “Too many are expecting more out of medicine than they can provide. Medicine works in tandem with therapy.”

Webber added, “The best, along with therapy, is the follow-through with lifestyle changes.”

Staff/Empathy

The staff at Pathways Community Mental Health stands ready and willing to help, night and day, from the CEO to the clinicians. They are the cogs that hold together the lives of the people served, enabling them to travel down the path of their lives. For the staff to accomplish this they must possess a vital human emotion, which is empathy. From what I have witnessed, they exemplify the empathy portrayed by the following quote from Alfred Adler:

“Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another.”

Empathy is extremely evident with the staff, as I observed from their greeting of the persons served and their interactions. On the other hand, it is paramount — either working as a team or independently — to select the correct match of staff in personality and approach with the person. This alleviates conflict and builds on trust.

Note the following comments from Pathways employees about the nature of their work:

1. Mary Swift, Pathways CEO, says, “Pathways has a great staff.”

2. Michael St. John, Clinical Program Supervisor, says, “It is a privilege to make an impact on their (people’s) lives.”

3. Patty Webber, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, says, “Recovery is possible and also to be productive in today’s society, along with attaining their life’s goal.”

4. Jonas Beversluis, Clinical Program Supervisor, says, “People who work in this field have a strong empathy and compassion. I want to help the clinicians to maintain that level of empathy, despite the level of stress in the job.”

5. Alison Burch, Outpatient Services Clinician, says, “One of the most important things Pathways can do is to let people know that they are not alone, and that help is here for them. I am glad to be a part of that process.”

As stated above, their passion for working and understanding the people that they serve was extremely evident.

Collaboration

This passion and teamwork extends beyond the realm of their professional offices; on the contrary, they have extended their support into the community. By that, I mean that they have established a collaborative network throughout our communities. The collaborations act as an umbrella of support for their people. The following are just a few of those businesses and governmental agencies: Department of Human Services, Delta-Schoolcraft Learning Center, Social Security, Lakestate Industries, group homes, law enforcement, and the judicial system, to name just a few.

Working together beyond the boundaries of their agencies, they have been able to provide that extra support and empathy in helping the people experience as much independence as possible. Alison Burch states, “It’s great to watch people gain independence as a result of mental health supports. Those supports can offer meaning and a sense of purpose in their lives.”

The Future/Change

Pathways Community Mental Health covers Delta and Marquette counties. Last year, they served 2,000 individuals, and I might add, made a difference in many lives. The staff has achieved a myriad of professional degrees and as stated before, they are passionate and dedicated to their work. They don’t consider it a job but a calling to serve those that are in need.

When asked what is one thing they would change if they could, the first response was funding. Additional funding would add increased dollars for new programs that would offer increased support and growth to meet the ever-increasing demand in our local communities.

In conclusion, Pathways Community Mental Health and other similar organizations throughout the state of Michigan offer hope to many people afflicted with mental illness and/or disabilities. Their staff makes a meaningful difference in so many lives.

——

Daniel J. Paul is a retired school administrator. His columns focus on education, old-fashioned family values, relationships, and other topics. To submit comments or find archived columns, go to meaningfuldifferences.net.

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