In 1998, Chairman Al DeYoung of EvergreenHealth wrote a letter to the community stating EvergreenHealth's Vision was to "be an inclusive health care system and the most trusted source for community health care solutions." I'm truly appreciative of their inclusion of mental health -- as they are now seriously evaluating a much needed Behavioral Health Urgent Care clinic; and other services.
Quality psychiatric care, fewer visits to the ER's, lower patient costs, and countering stigma are major benefits of behavioral health urgent care.
Last week I attended a suicide prevention workshop at Redmond High School and ran into several EvergreenHealth social workers who assess students for suicide and other mental health issues. Erin, the social worker for RHS said she's done 80 assessments in her two years. Suicide is at crisis levels in our high schools! 8th graders struggle very much too.
In a big way, this suicide crisis sparked the "Mental Health First Aid program" for adults assisting young people. I took the class to prepare for LWSD's Lunch Buddy mentoring program; it's very helpful. EvergreenHealth in conjunction with the LW Foundation taught 4 classes last year with more to come. One of the LW Schools Foundation themes for this year is mental wellness. I hope some of EvergreenHealth commissioners and some staff will attend their annual spring luncheon....and you too!
I'm thankful for EvergreenHealth's "In-Home Mental Health Program." It's a great program for adult, seriously impaired medicaid patients who lack mobility, and it doesn't cost the hospital a dime. Evergreen is starting to do some really good things for mental health in our community. I hope they keep moving forward.
-- Bob Yoder
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