If your New Year’s resolution is to quit smoking, Swope Health Services is here to help.
SHS stands ready to help you break your smoking habit with Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists and tobacco cessation groups.
SHS tobacco cessation program is open to all with a referral from your SHS provider.
The groups are led by behavioral health associates certified as Tobacco Treatment Specialists through Mayo Clinic – Rochester and the American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking® program.
The Freedom From Smoking® program offers a structured, systematic approach to quitting, and its positive messaging emphasizes the benefits of better health. The program uses methods designed to help smokers gain control over their behavior.
“We know there is no single way to quit that is effective for all smokers,” said Grace Okonta, Supervisor, Outpatient Community Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program. “Our program has a variety of techniques – nicotine replacement therapy, medication, counseling and support.”
The curriculum also includes the latest research about nicotine replacement therapy, covering gum, inhalers, patches, lozenges and nasal spray and other smoking cessation medications.
This program was first developed by the American Lung Association more than 35 years ago. Since then, it has helped hundreds of thousands of American end their addiction to nicotine and begin healthier, smoke-free living.
Is it YOUR time to quit smoking? Contact your SHS provider to enroll – call (816) 923-5800 for an appointment.
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Depression and stress often show up at this time of year, but they don’t have to, says Andrea Buford, MSW, LCSW, Director of Clinical Operations in Behavioral Health at SHS.
The holiday season brings expectations that you should be shopping, decorating, cooking, organizing activities, traveling, seeing family and so on.
“The pressure to do all of it can be a bit much,” Andrea said. “Don’t feel like you have to be perfect. It’s OK to say ‘no.’ You don’t have to get caught up in it all.”
Andrea offers some tips to avoid stress this holiday season:
1. Make a plan – “If you’re going to be traveling, give yourself plenty of time,” Andrea said. “Accept that the even the best-laid plans don’t work the way they should. Just stay calm and relaxed.”
2. Set a budget – “Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses,” she said. “Set a limit and don’t go over it. Remember, what’s important is the time you’re spending, not the money.” She notes that sometimes the best gifts are the simplest – a handwritten letter, a family recipe, a homemade ornament or favorite food.
3. Do for others – “One of the best ways to feel good is to help someone else,” Andrea noted. For example, one of Andrea’s friends has a tradition with his children — every year, they must choose one gift that they can’t open. That’s the one that they take to Children’s Mercy and give to a child there. It’s a lesson in how giving makes you feel good, while making someone else feel better, too.
4. Ask for help – It’s OK to ask others to contribute to the meal or to help out with cleaning or shopping or caring for family. And be willing to help others if they ask or seem overwhelmed.
5. Don’t let tensions escalate – You’re likely to encounter a lot of people in a variety of circumstances like at parties, dinner, shopping, in traffic, at events. “Accept differences,” Andrea said. “Be kind, take a deep breath. Let that person get in line in front of you, hold the door for someone else.” A smile can go a long way toward reaching an understanding.
6. Take time for yourself – “You can give yourself permission not to be joyous. It’s OK to say no and step back,” Andrea said. Remember to take care of yourself – eat right, don’t overindulge, get rest, stick to your exercise routine. Andrea likes to quote Dr. Seuss: Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.
7. Be aware of depression – Feelings of persistent sadness, or a sense of being hopeless, helpless and worthless are signals of depression. Other signs are changes in sleeping or eating, and prolonged restlessness or irritability. If you’re experiencing these serious feelings, a behavioral health professional can help with therapy, coping techniques and medication. It’s OK to seek help. That’s why we’re here.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call our Behavioral Health department at (816) 922-1070. Same-day visits are available.
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By Colleen Innis, MA, Child Behavioral Health Project Coordinator, CPRC Children
Bullying among school-age kids is real. It can be more than just someone talking mean – a child who is the subject of bullying behavior can be suffering from trauma.
We’re here to help. At SHS Children’s Community Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program, we want to create awareness and empower parents and students to act against bullying.
What is bullying? Bullying consists of aggressive behavior that involves unwanted and negative actions. It involves a pattern of behavior, repeated over time. And it involves an imbalance of power, leading to forms of abuse.
There are several forms of bullying behaviors:
Verbal bullying: Using bad names, spreading lies and rumors, putting down others
Physical bullying: Hitting, kicking, pushing, throwing objects and taking things by force
Social bullying: Causing embarrassment in group setting, creating exclusion or isolation
Sexual bullying: Unwanted touching, inappropriate comments, jokes and photos
Cyberbullying: Negative and embarrassing comments or photos spread through social media, texting or Internet and mobile apps
Racial Bullying: Derogatory comments, embarrassment and physical aggression toward individuals from a different race
Kids who suffer from these kinds of behaviors might not seek out help, but you can watch for some key signs. You might see responses like nightmares, mood swings, fearfulness, stress and panic attacks.
You can watch for changes to eating and sleep patterns, style of dress and appearance. Some might try substance abuse or self-harm. Others might turn aggressive and hurt others or have angry outbursts or try to take weapons to school. Some might just refuse to go to school.
When you see behaviors that you can’t explain, reach out. Your response can make all the difference in empowering your child:
Listen non-judgmentally and be reassuring: “It’s not your fault” or “Thanks for telling me and giving me a chance to help you.”
Validate their feelings: “I can see how this is difficult for you. It makes sense for you to feel this way.”
Provide support and help identify options to solve the problem: “What do you want to do next?”
The harmful effects of bullying might be a contributing factor to the increase of suicide rates in our nation and in KC Metro Area. About 450 Kansans and 950 Missourians die of suicide each year, and the rates have risen since 2008.
If you notice a child experiencing emotional distress from the effects of bullying, and having difficulty managing at home and school or in the community, please seek professional help. The child could benefit from participating in Swope Health Services Outpatient Services (therapy or psychiatric) and CPRC Services that offer additional support from a caring adult.
Refer a child for a walk-in assessment, Tuesday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or call Colleen Innis at 816-918-6130.
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By Colleen Innis, MA, Child Behavioral Health Project Coordinator, CPRC Children
School is cool when kids can follow the rules. But we know that sometimes, kids need a little extra help to learn the rules or work through issues that might make it hard for them to follow the rules.
Here’s a checklist: Is your child having difficulty sustaining attention to tasks or activities at home and school? Does your child show any of these behaviors or have any of these actions?
Has multiple suspensions
Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
Fidgets with hands and feet or squirms in seat
Leaves seat when remaining seated is expected
Has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure/play activities quietly
Has difficulty waiting his/her turn
Loses temper
Argues with adults
Actively defies or refuses to comply with adults’ request or rules
Blames others for his/her mistakes or misbehaviors
Bullies, threatens, or intimidates others
Initiates physical fights
Has run away from home overnight
Is fearful, anxious or worried
Experiencing the effects of trauma
If any of these symptoms are preventing your child from developing and maintaining healthy relationships at home or school, you should consider having your child participate in a Behavioral Health Assessment at Swope Health Services.
Our walk-in hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. We provide a variety of services and treatment:
Individualized treatment plan and services
Community coordination and support services
Crisis intervention
School and community outreach and engagement
School coordination and support
Group programming
Psycho-social assessments
To learn more about our Children’s programs and services, please call Colleen Innis at 816-918-6130. When attending a walk-in appointment please bring Valid Identification for the parent or guardian, proof of address, proof of income, custody documents and child’s proof of insurance.
Our programs provide a safe place for kids to work through challenges and have positive and healthy experiences. For an appointment, call 816-923-5800.
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September is Suicide Prevention month but let’s not let this important idea stop at the end of the month.
At Swope Health Services, we work every day to help clients find resources to ease depression, fear, anger, helplessness and all the other stressors that contribute to making existence seem overwhelming, said Deborah Lidzy, SHS Crisis Response Specialist in Adult Behavioral Health.
“There is no one, single cause of suicide,” she said. “We understand that depression, anxiety or substance abuse, can all increase risk for suicide, if not addressed. We want to help people manage their mental health and learn good, solid coping skills.”
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for more than 42,000 American deaths annually. That’s 117 suicides a day. And these numbers may be low, the foundation notes, as the stigma associated with suicide can lead to under-reporting.
There are many warning signs for suicide, including:
Displaying depression or lack of interest in anything
Talking about being a burden, having no reason to live
Withdrawing from normal activities with family and friends
Abusing alcohol or drugs
People who are coping with mental health challenges – such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychotic disorders – may be at greater risk for suicide, Deborah notes. Additionally, people under severe stress from external factors like a traumatic life event, bullying, harassment, issues at work or in relationships may also be at risk.
If you know someone in this kind of situation, encourage them to get help.
Contact the Access-Crisis-Intervention Mental Health Crisis Hotline at 1-888-279-8188.
Resources:
Suicide Prevention Lifeline, operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. Or call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
SHS Behavioral Health is here to help. We provide assessment and treatment, and welcome same-day scheduling for appointments. Call 816-923-5800 for more information.
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On any given day, you can find about a dozen urban farmers in the yard behind Swope Health Services Central Facility. It’s home to a community garden planned, planted, tended and harvested by participants in the SHS Adult Day Program.
The six raised beds hold the bulk of the organic crops, and two hay bales hold an experimental planting of acorn squash and zucchini. The garden includes tomatoes, collards, kale, arugula, lettuce, watermelon, cucumbers, okra and sweet potatoes. Pots hold a variety of herbs and strawberries.
But the gardens produce more than crops, said Lenise James, Community Support Specialist in the Community Psychiatric Rehabilitation-Adult Day Program. The SHS Community Garden also helps program participants grow skills and confidence. They learn how to strengthen their seedlings with fertilizer, how to protect them from threats like bugs. They relish the approach of harvest and the cooking and feasts that follow.
“It’s very healing to be out here,” Lenise noted. “It gives people a sense of mastery over what they do. They show self-sufficiency in gardening and in cooking.”
Views of the summer crops, clockwise from top left: The tomato bed holds a mix or tomato varieties – hybrids, heirlooms, cherry tomatoes, Cherokee purple and goliath. An overview of the beds with collards, two kinds of kale and Swiss chard. The well-tended Venus flytrap. A strawberry fountain temporarily located near the building. Cucumbers with cages to promote vertical growth, bedded with dill and okra. A big pot holds parsley, basil and other herbs at the edge of the pepper bed full of sweet peppers, chili peppers, Anaheim peppers and tomatillo.
Recently, the gardeners learned first-hand about the harlequin beetle that attacked the organic garden. Volunteers from the Kansas City Community Gardens found the bugs and explained the lifecycle, from egg to nymph to adult. The gardeners used a dust (made from crushed chrysanthemums) to repel the beetles from their organic crops. They also learned a surprisingly easy way to catch the beetles.
“If you place a linoleum tile in the garden, the beetles like to gather under it,” Lenise explained. “Then you can just lift up the tile and catch them.”
Gardening is an almost year-round program, operated at SHS as a team effort between program participants and SHS associates Mark McIlroy, Ozella (Renae) Stone, Christina Gossage-Camacho, Eliis Walls and Lenise. Supervisor Grace Okonta leads the program. The SHS Community Garden program has been in existence for about six years, launched with assistance from the Kansas City Community Gardens and the University of Missouri Extension office.
There are 15 gardeners in the program. They begin planning in February and meet at least weekly. They vote to determine the coming year’s crops, work out how to rotate the plantings across the beds, and plan for three seasons of harvest – spring, summer, and fall.
In peak growing season, gardeners take on a variety of daily tasks. One man comes early to water, and another spends time weeding and carefully tends the plants. One gardener uses a walker but keeps the commitment to the garden and fellow gardeners. Another, at age 76, has been gardening since childhood and enjoys sharing his knowledge with others.
A close bond develops between the gardeners as well as with the plants they cultivate. Lenise noted that one gardener kept to himself, but when the team learned that he likes bugs, they made arrangements to get him a Venus fly-trap. The carnivorous plant is now flourishing under his care.
“I see how much they enjoy it,” Lenise said. “The teamwork is incredible.”
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Last Thursday, August 11, more than 75 police officers, sheriff’s deputies, court officials and mental health professionals joined Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon at Swope Health Services.
A roundtable of 10 Jackson County law enforcement and mental health professionals assembled to discuss how the governor’s mental health initiative is working to strengthen public safety.
Swope Health Services, which provides mental health services for individuals of all ages regardless of income, hosted the event.
Gov. Nixon noted how his 2013 strategic mental health initiative provided new Community Mental Health Liaisons to work with police departments and the courts. The goal of the liaisons, he said, is to facilitate access to care and improve the coordination of mental health services.
The governor introduced Cheryl D. Reed, SHS Community Mental Health Liaison, to kick off the discussion of how the program is working.
Cheryl, who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work, noted that she attends municipal court about three times a week. She is there to screen offenders who’ve been identified by either a judge or an attorney as needing mental health support. Cheryl assesses them for eligibility in Jackson County Mental Health Court, which then provides treatment and resources. If the individual successfully completes the six-month treatment, charges can be dropped.
“I get around 75 to 100 police reports that are specifically around people with mental health issues,” Cheryl said. “I try to follow up on all those reports and help get people engaged in our services.”
She continued: “Sometimes we get some really high users of
9-1-1 that are really problematic and we will go to their homes. I go with a CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) officer to the home to try and engage them in the services.”
Cheryl noted that another part of her work is to engage police officers on dealing with clients with mental health issues. “I try to educate them about resources that will help them deal with people with mental health issues,” she said.
In the roundtable discussion, other participants shared stories of how an intervention and treatment kept a client out of trouble. Others addressed the cost savings that accrue from keeping people out of jails.
Gov. Nixon praised the work of the roundtable and the audience. “I appreciate the leadership that we have here on the ground,” he said.
The local collaboration between mental health and police departments creates a durable program that can make a significant difference in the community.
For more information about SHS Behavioral Health Services, contact us at 816-922-1070.
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What do you know about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD?
PTSD is often associated with battlefield experience in the military, but trauma can affect any one.
“No one is immune from trauma,” said Deborah Lidzy, Crisis Response Specialist in Adult Behavioral Health at Swope Health Services. “Trauma does not discriminate in any way.”
PTSD can occur after you have experienced a traumatic event. Traumatic events are anything shocking, scary or dangerous where you feel like your life is in danger or you have no control over what is happening.
Trauma can be caused by sexual abuse, physical assault, serious accidents, like a car wreck, natural disasters like fire, tornado, flood or earthquake, or combat exposure.
Not everyone who experiences a trauma will have symptoms of PTSD, Deborah said, but repeated traumas may increase the likelihood of having post-traumatic stress.
The main symptoms of PTSD include:
Not sleeping or re-experiencing the event in bad dreams, frightening thoughts or flashbacks
Avoiding situations that remind you of the event
Negative changes in beliefs and feelings, like feeling negative about yourself, or feeling guilt, blame or lacking interest in enjoyable activities
Hyper-vigilance — being jittery, tense, or constantly on the lookout for danger
“It’s normal to have a stress reaction after a trauma,” Deborah said, “but if these behaviors interfere with your life, it’s time to seek help.”
The most effective treatment is a combination of counseling and medication. Counseling involves meeting with a therapist to understand how your trauma changed your thoughts and feelings, and to learn new ways of coping.
“The more you talk about the situation, the emotion gets less and less,” Deborah said. “The only way around the fire is through the fire.”
SHS provides trauma-informed care that is customized and personal to each patient.
“The most important thing is to get started,” Deborah said. “It’s better to deal with it right away and don’t let it build up. We can help you deal with it, work through it, learn some coping skills.”
Have you struggled after a trauma? Or do you know someone who may be suffering after a trauma? We are here for you. Please call 816-923-5800 and visit our Behavioral Health services for support.
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In honor of National Health Center Week, Aug. 7-13, 2016, Swope Health Services will host a community luncheon and book signing featuring Dr. Karmen Smith.
Dr. Smith will speak on the power of forgiveness at the Kauffman Foundation at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 12. Tickets are $45 and include a copy of Dr. Smith’s book, The “I Am” Solution.
Dr. Smith brings more than 20 years’ experience in mental health and child welfare. She will explain how the power of forgiveness can be the key to unlocking the life you imagine, from more loving relationships to more abundant finances.
In addition to her roles as a public speaker and author, Dr. Smith is a licensed clinical social worker, a trauma specialist, and an ordained minister based in Las Vegas, Nev. Her mother, Kanzetta Harris, was a longtime social worker at SHS. In 1989, SHS opened a residential housing facility and named it The Kanzetta Harris House to commemorate her work.
ABOUT National Health Center Week
National Health Center Week is a time designated to celebrate the critical role of community health centers in caring for the medically vulnerable and underserved people throughout the United States.
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April is Alcohol Awareness Month, designated by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD).
Since 1987, April has been named as a month to raise awareness of the disease of alcoholism. At Swope Health Services, alcohol awareness and treatment are year-round activities, centered at the Imani House, our center for alcohol and drug treatment.
The NCADD reports that 17.6 million people — one in 12 adults — suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence. More than 7 million children live in a household where an adult is dependent on or has abused alcohol. Each year, 88,000 people die from excessive alcohol use, according to the organization.
“Alcohol is easy to get and it’s cheap and legal, to anyone over 21,” noted Adrienne Powell, MSW, LCSW, manager of Imani House. “It’s also very dangerous.”
Alcohol abuse can impact all aspects of life, damaging a user’s emotional stability, finances, career and family and social relationships. It also can cause health complications.
“Alcohol withdrawal can cause serious issues — heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, cardiac arrest, even death without proper treatment,” Adrienne notes. “People who use alcohol heavily and daily can experience significant issues when they try to stop. They may need medical detoxification.”
Imani House, located at 3950 E. 51st St., Kansas City, offers medically assisted treatment for the disease of alcoholism, including a regimen of monthly injections to prevent the effects of alcohol and opiates. This prescription treatment takes about a year and works best in tandem with counseling and treatment activities to learn coping skills and overcome urges for alcohol.
Imani House also offers residential services and is developing plans to expand. The residential services are provided in a partnership with the Healing House Inc., a non-profit faith-based substance abuse recovery organization at 4420 Saint John Ave., Kansas City.
So far this year, Imani House has enrolled 250 people in its services, which include screening and assessments, case management, group and individual counseling, psychiatric services and year-round education and training in healthy lifestyles.
“We teach the truth about drugs — what they do to your health and to your brain, why they are addicting,” Adrienne said. “We educate about co-dependency, healthy relationships, nutrition, anger management, parenting, relapse prevention and more.”
Adrienne and the Imani House associates bring understanding and empathy, drawing from experience with a family member or loved one or a personal recovery journey.
“We provide support to people who are making a change,” Adrienne said. “We give a lot of encouragement and validation. We know they are not their addiction. Alcoholism is a medical condition that needs to be treated.”
Breaking the cycle of addiction can be a long journey, but Adrienne and her team know it can be done.
For example, Imani House hosts Alcoholics Anonymous meetings every Friday, with a Clean and Sober Celebration on the last Friday of each month. The counselors and sponsors provide motivation and encouragement, celebrating milestones small and large. The group also models how to have a good time, surrounding yourself with recovery-minded people.
“We see each of them as a human being, with worth and dignity,” Adrienne said. “We help them change the language that they use about themselves. We help them change their environment and behaviors.”
She continued: “It’s hard. It’s NOT easy. But it is possible. Everything you want in your life, you can get if you work for it.”
Have a question about alcohol or drug treatment programs? Please call Imani House at 816-599-5858 or leave a message in the comment box below.
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