‘They won’t forget it’: Mom worries about children’s mental health after COVID-19 pandemic – Winnipeg

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Trisha Blair’s one-year-old and five-year-olds spend most of their time in the backyard.

There is a blue children’s pool with a small red slide on the side, a board with a white sketched stick figure, and two empty children’s lawn chairs.

This is where they spent the majority of their time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My kids aren’t really interested in any kind of virtual dating,” Blair said.

While she’s happy that her kids don’t want to be on an iPad or computer, she said it was concerning that her kids don’t have a social circle, especially since they don’t go to preschool.

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Caring for Your Children’s Mental Health During COVID-19: Be Present, Be Aware

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She said she already saw differences in her one-year-old daughter that her five-year-old did not represent, which Blair says is due to her lack of socialization early in her life.

“She mostly plays on her own,” said Blair. “She’s very nice, but it’s not the same.

Although day camps are open with a maximum of 20 children and activities like dance lessons are also returning with limited capacity, Blair said it was too late.

After months of restrictions, she believes the impacts have already left their mark on children across the province and worries if some of them will be long term.

This is a concern according to pediatrician Dr Chris Hohl that will not be known for years.

“Young children who have grown up with everyone wearing masks and socializing and not visiting extended family and playgroups – what kind of effects is this going to have on their development? Hohl said. “If they went through this when they were one and two, what will they be like at three, four and five? “

Read more:

Study suggests two-thirds of children and youth in B.C. experience the effects of a pandemic on mental health

Hohl said the lasting effects would vary for each child and age group, but believes most children will bounce back.

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The doctor, who works at the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital and has his own clinic, said he has seen a range of problems come through his door, including eating disorders, children with suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances and difficulty concentrating, among others. things.

“It’s so nonspecific, but it’s also very difficult to diagnose because it’s so nonspecific,” the doctor said. “All of these things may be signs of some of the effects children are experiencing not only with COVID, but with the changes COVID has had in our society and in our families.”

Never having gone through anything like the COVID-19 pandemic before, Hohl said the concerns of Blair and many other relatives of his patients are all valid and come with some great questions, but limited answers.

When parents come to him with concern that their child will feel the effects of the pandemic, Hohl said his suggestions largely depend on the patient’s age and what he knows about the pandemic.

“As the guidelines allow us to have more gatherings and activities starting to open up, starting to re-engage kids in this game and those activities is probably the best way forward,” Hohl said.

However, Hohl said there was no answer other than supporting their children and being attentive to their symptoms while trying to reassure them.

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He adds that being aware of your own emotions will also go a long way in ensuring that your own feelings of stress or anxiety are not transferred to your children in the way you meet their needs.

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Hohl acknowledges how resilient children are, noting that he has seen children become extremely sick and always find ways to “bounce back”, sometimes better than adults.

Some will take longer to recover than others, the doctor warns, and that’s okay.

“Kids who take a little longer to bounce back, I don’t think that’s a hit on them or a sign that they’re weaker or less behind,” Hohl said.

For children struggling as things slowly return to normal in Manitoba, Hohl said play therapy and counseling could be helpful, but expect your child to be like they were, instantly. , could induce more stress.

Blair is confident her children will be fine, but said she fears for any children in the community who might not be able to get the help they need.

“The kids aren’t going to forget this,” Blair said, wiping his eyes. “How they were treated, how they were forgotten.”

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We have partnered with faith-based healing centers for patient referrals – Community Mental Health Practitioner

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A community mental health practitioner at Korle-Bu University Hospital said his department of psychiatry is working in partnership with faith-based healing centers to refer cases to them for treatment.

Speaking to Joy News ‘Ultimate Health on Sunday, Francis Yeboah revealed that some faith-based healing centers come to their facility to have their clients’ medications administered.

He added that they are allowed to go to faith-based healing centers to monitor the health of patients in their camps in order to “integrate our environment with them”.

“So they come to us and we get them the right drugs, the right treatment and they give us time to come in and follow up, where when we go and they take the patient out and we access it, we try to do all that we can for them as long as they are there, ”he said.

He said that when the psychiatric team visits these centers to educate the caregivers of the centers, they point out the things that are not done well in the camp.

Mr. Yeboah noted, however, that one of the challenges facing community psychiatric services is the lack of facilities to retain people with mental health issues.

He added, “These faith centers have provided many facilities for people with such conditions, so even with everything, they are there. “


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The population control policy is not enough, we must sensitize minorities: Assam BJP

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Amid efforts to introduce a two-child policy in Assam, BJP general secretary Dilip Saikia said that just policies would not contribute to population control, as there is a need to educate the minority community about it. problem.

Saikia was referring to the meeting of Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma with 150 intellectuals from the Muslim community in Guwahati on Sunday.

Speaking to ANI, Saikia said, “This is a big initiative of the Assam government. Muslims are lagging behind in various areas. This meeting was held with Muslim intellectuals under the direction of the Chief Minister on all these subjects such as the promotion of their education., their skills, their social life and how to integrate them into the development process. “

The BJP chief said the population explosion is happening across the country, especially in Assam. He claimed that the population of Muslims is increasing in Assam more than the national average, while that of Hindus is decreasing. In each constituency development block, the Muslim population is increasing dramatically, he said.

Saika blamed bad congressional policies for the problem. “The bad congressional policies were there. They saw Muslims as a vote bank, because of which Muslims are isolated today. The name of Muslim remains associated with every incident. The Muslim intellectual must be united to address these questions, “mentioned.

CM Sarma meets 150 Muslim scholars

Earlier today, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma met 150 academics from the Muslim community on Sunday to hear their views on population control policy. The discussion focused on socio-economic issues affecting the indigenous Muslim population of Assam and was attended by various ministers.

On June 19, Sarma announced that his government would gradually integrate a two-child policy to receive government benefits. He bragged about passing the bill in the next monsoon session, implementing state policy.

(With contributions from the agency)


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Swimming, AAPI Identity and Changing Mental Health

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Commentary: Swimming, AAPI Identity and Changing Mental Health

Commentary – By Quinn Bunnag

As we head into the fourth quarter of the pandemic, it is safe to say that we are entering a time of change. The world we knew before COVID-19 will never be the same. The pandemic has brought out our demons, as we face horrors such as a rise in gun violence i.e. 20,000 deaths in 2020, an increase in hate crimes against Asians by nearly 150 percent and an account with systemic police brutality.

But there is an element of sanity to it all, that’s where I focus my energy. May was AAPI History Month, and I am compelled to share my experience with the issues facing the Asian American community.

My parents met in Oklahoma City while they were studying at college. Eventually they decided to call Oklahoma home. My younger brother and I have lived in Oklahoma our entire lives and we visit Thailand occasionally during the summer. During my childhood, I was not in tune with the story of the Bunnag family when it comes to the royal family of Thailand, mainly because my parents wanted us to live our own lives and didn’t feel like we had to ‘chase the ghosts’ of the past. The climax of my family history came when the most important figure, Chuang Bunnag, took control of the country as regent until the fifth king, Chulalongkorn, came of age. It wasn’t until my sabbatical in 2018 that I learned the full extent of my family history and was able to appreciate my legacy.

Generations later, my parents came to the United States as immigrants. It was a bold decision to move there, especially for my dad, given his family history. My grandfather married my grandmother, who resided outside of Bangkok, which was a big deal then as there was a tradition in place that limited who he could marry. When he broke that tradition, it allowed my father to live his own life.

My father has told me countless times how he immigrated to Oklahoma. He had just finished his university studies before taking the first flight of his life across the Pacific. He barely knew how to speak English, so he worked with a tutor for a month to learn the basics of dialogue. He started from scratch. Today, through hard work and persistence, he is realizing his American dream as a co-founder, board member and director of Valir Health.

My passion for the sport started when I was eight years old and continues to be influential today. When it comes to mental toughness, the thrill of competing in a high stakes environment gives me a unique feeling. Nothing is given. It must be earned. The sport of swimming has done so much for me personally as I have been able to foster so many relationships and create some of the best times of my life.

Until my sabbatical, swimming had also been my therapy. When I dive into the icy pool in the morning, I feel like I’m entering a different world. I was able to disconnect from the real world for the solitude of my thoughts. If I was frustrated or upset I would use it to fuel my training or competition. For some reason my best performances came when I was in this area. When I was 11, my father was seriously injured in a fatal car accident. The fear and trauma of this incident stuck with me, even though I did not receive any treatment to deal with it. Swimming was an outlet to make my parents proud and overcome my difficulties. I think this event inspired me to take my swimming career more seriously and shaped my swimming career. Now when I think about the accident, I just remember enjoying the little things and not getting bogged down in meaningless drama.

When it comes to my AAPI identity, I wouldn’t consider myself a stereotypical Asian. I’m not a math genius. Unintentionally, my groups of friends don’t include many people of Thai descent. It bothered me in high school because most people that age just want to fit in and be “normal”. I felt like I had a major identity crisis during my gap year, and I knew I had surprised many of my peers by choosing not to pursue swimming in college. As I got older, I learned to appreciate my differences and slowly come out of my shell to engage with my heritage.

When I moved on to the next chapter in my life, I had to reinvent myself. Mental health is an area that fascinates me and motivates me to get more involved in issues in my community. It all started out as just wanting to help solve a problem on campus, involving a racial incident in February 2020. I never imagined it would get to where we are today.

After many false starts, the opportunity to partner with the Bandana project popped up as they kicked off their Bandana Project 2.0 campaign. The project serves as a mental health awareness and suicide prevention program implemented at more than 40 college campuses. The program provides students and staff with a lime green bandana to clip to their backpack to show they have resources on mental health and suicide prevention and can direct people to the Bandana Project website, to more resources or information on how to create a chapter.

I felt that Project Bandana was the perfect organization to communicate with because their values ​​matched what I had discussed with friends, teachers and staff. We have grown together and I can’t wait to see what the future holds with this group. In April, I was the subject of a racist incident with another student on campus. (I choose not to go into the details of the incident to avoid paying attention to this student). The incident was handled quickly because I was able to defuse the situation. Honestly, I was lucky that the individual did not appear to have any malicious intent. This experience made me think about what other members of the Asian community have faced over the past year, and my thoughts are with the families affected by these horrific acts of cowardice.

All of my energy and focus is on what I can control, which is my attitude and my ability to find sustainable and proactive solutions. I give my support by taking action to uplift the whole community. I am an ambassador for the Bandana Project and I will be the president of the student-led mental health awareness organization. OUR mental health in autumn. Our Mental Health will be adding a position to the Bandana Project next semester.

Our Mental Health will launch a fundraising event in October for underserved communities that do not have access to mental health resources. It’s a problem that affects everyone, that’s why we need to come together as a community.

As my focus on who I am and on the mental health issues in my community has converged over the past year, I’m proud to say I’m Thai and American, but we can always be better.

– Quinn Bunnag is a student at the University of Oklahoma. He was a junior national swimmer with the American Energy Swim Club, Highlander Aquatic Club and Casady School. He represented Oklahoma locally and nationally as the Oklahoma Athlete Representative from 2016 to 2018. A version of this story appeared in the OU Daily.

All comments are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine, the International Swimming Hall of Fame, or its staff.


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The elephant in the doctors’ lounge

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With an estimated 156 million Americans fully vaccinated against COVID-19, doctors are seeing signs of relief on the horizon. This relief cannot come soon enough. The initial energy and adrenaline that drove doctors to treat critically ill patients during the first months of the pandemic has been replaced by fatigue, burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s time to speak up – and take action – so that these struggling feelings don’t lead more of our co-workers to a mental health emergency.

Physician suicide was a public health crisis long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost one in four doctors knows a doctor who has committed suicide. Now, they have been in a nonstop crisis for over a year, with COVID-19 inflicting severe psychological injuries on them. Some doctors have had to deal with more trauma and patient deaths during this time than they had seen before in their entire careers.

Harsh working conditions – such as a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), caring for patients who can be seriously ill for weeks on end – as well as heavy administrative tasks, long hours and the heartache of losing jobs. patients have become the norm. Burnout can be like the death of a thousand strokes. In our 2020 physician survey, nearly 60% of physicians reported experiencing feelings of burnout, but only 13% reported seeing a physician for a mental health issue caused by the effects of COVID-19 on their practice or employment.

If left untreated, burnout could cause more cases of depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts in our profession. It is these people, our colleagues – perhaps even ourselves – who are more likely to quit medicine, or worse, to die from preventable suicide. Poor mental health among physicians can have devastating effects on the access, quality and cost of health care in our country. It is estimated that about 1 million Americans lose their doctor to suicide every year.

We need to take care of the elephant in the room – in our practices, clinics and hospitals. We must unite and break the culture of silence surrounding physician mental health.

It is important to give ourselves permission to talk about our own mental health. We need to change the paradigm from a system where doctors think burnout, depression, or suicidal thoughts are something we can or must overcome on our own, to a system where we have a plan in place to access our own mental health care. Having a plan for getting mental health care should not only be accepted, but also normalized. Access to mental health care should become a fundamental and permanent part of the medical profession.

A personal crisis management plan can help identify coping strategies and resources that may work best for each of us individually to successfully overcome stress, feelings of burnout, or other challenges. In fact, in one health care system, almost one-third of participating residents used a personal crisis plan in the first three months of their introduction to this resource.

This is a staggering number, especially considering that he is one of the most recent physicians to join our profession. And while this might just be one data point of many on burnout and stress in physicians, it shows how many of us can be suffering right now – or worse, suffer in silence or alone – all because of the stigma associated with physicians seeking to take care of their mental health.

Encouraging the use of mental health resources and evidence-based burnout improvement programs can offer physicians the much-needed open door to seeking care and alleviating these feelings of stigma and shame.

For example, a Washington state firm designed several workflow redesign interventions to address physician burnout. One example they explored was a pre-visit lab ordering checklist to reduce administrative burdens for the physician and provide an opportunity to discuss the results with patients during their visit. The intervention group eventually saw a decrease of 3 hours in the total number of self-reported hours per week spent in indirect patient care and administrative tasks, and reported an increase in both overall job satisfaction and job satisfaction. alignment of values ​​with clinical leaders.

This is just one type of real solution to tackling physician burnout and helping physicians deal with stressors that put their emotional and physical health at risk.

You may never know when the feather that breaks the proverbial camel’s back will come. But in our business, it is more than likely that a day will come. It is simply the nature of the work that we are privileged to do. Doctors, like everyone else, should feel comfortable asking for help when it’s needed most.

Gary Price, MD, MBA, is a member of the board of directors and current president of the Physicians Foundation. He is also an attending surgeon and clinical assistant professor of surgery at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.


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The man behind the cryptocurrency platform serving marginalized communities

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For some in the formal banking system, cryptocurrency is a threat. For people like Christopher Perceptions, it’s an innovative way to make money that needs to be taught to others, especially people from marginalized communities like the one he grew up in.

Perceptions grew up in the Sherman Park / Uptown neighborhood of Milwaukee. Born to a Christian evangelist mother and drug dealer father, the entrepreneur grew up hearing gunshots and police sirens frequently. “I had a decision to make. I was going to be either a statistician or a pioneer, and I wanted to become a pioneer,” he told Bizjournal.

He has been an entrepreneur since the age of 18. After dropping out of college, Perceptions decided to quit school to avoid student debt and instead invest the money in businesses, including the faith-based clothing company ARTLife Forever.

Initially, Perceptions knew nothing about cryptocurrency. He took the trouble to study it for several years. He took the path of cryptocurrency because of his firm belief that cryptocurrency could be mined in disadvantaged and marginalized communities to enable others to become like him.

In 2020, he developed and launched a cryptocurrency platform known as PerceptForm. The startup offers online courses on cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). To date, PerceptForm has over 550 subscribers worldwide.

“PerceptForm is an end-to-end ecosystem of cryptocurrency / blockchain products and services that introduces communities to the new world of blockchain technology. PerceptForm aims to be the bridge that creates solutions in finance, education, art and real estate by leveraging blockchain technology, ”the company said on its website.

Perceptions took its startup one step further with the introduction of PerceptPay. PerceptPay is a marketplace that will allow businesses to accept US dollars for goods and services, but receive payments in bitcoin.

The journey to its point has not been easy for the entrepreneur and spoken word artist. He remembers having a nervous breakdown and being homeless for a while. “I lost almost everything but I wouldn’t give up on my dream because all I needed was time, a laptop, WiFi, an outlet to charge and tools to create. They were my cash flow, my assets in a life of liabilities and unforeseen variables, ”he said.

Perceptions in a Question and Answer on Quora described her grandmother as her first angel investor. He further praised his wife for not giving up during tough times. “My wife has always believed in me and the vision God gave me, no matter what the cost. She has never moved in difficult times, ”he said.

According to Bizjournal, Perceptions is on the education council for the Milwaukee Art Museum and previously served on the Bronzeville advisory committee for the city of Milwaukee.


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DVIDS – News – Tackling the stigma of mental health at NMRTC Bremerton

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As June, designated “Men’s Health Month” by the military health system, has moved to July, the hope is that most men who usually focus on their physical rather than mental health have at least taken take into account the importance of psychological and emotional well-being.

The Navy Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) notes that there is a stigma among men who even consider mental health care.

Although he has served in a variety of land, sea, submarine and air environments where long deployments, traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and a host of other issues can – and have a direct impact – on soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines there is a reluctance to openly consider, communicate and confront individual sanity.

Yet mental health experts like the Navy Medical Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC), Lt. Caitlin Sleight of Bremerton, are making a difference in the individual and collective mental health of service members and their families.

For Sleight, a clinical psychologist, division of mental health officer and Marine Corps Security Forces Battalion Psychology Liaison for the NMRTC Bremerton Department of Mental Health, mental health is a critical cognitive component for human health. individual health and well-being.

“Paying attention to our behavioral health is an important aspect of overall health, as it is the foundation of warrior strength and resilience for the military. Many people confuse mental health with the absence of negative emotions. While in fact it means putting the energy into formulating a comprehensive understanding of the etiology [origin] of our own emotional, physical, psychological and social interrelationships to then adapt in the face of adversity. As combatants, our greatest strengths are our ability to regulate, modulate and tolerate the unique stressors of an operational environment, ”Sleight said.

The operating environment has been completely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has added another layer of mental health issues.

“As a Navy clinical psychologist in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have collectively faced the isolation, death, rapid change and global uncertainty of the future. Our sailors have been isolated aboard ships for months, isolated from family, friends and at times unable to make it home to officially mourn the loss of a loved one due to travel restrictions. As a clinical psychologist during a pandemic or not, our role is critical in facilitating the processing of the complex emotions that can result from grief, death and death, ”Sleight said.

Statistical evidence also shows that the pandemic has infuriated the mental health of men more than women, especially when it comes to additional stress and anxiety, financial problems, and increased alcohol use. Addressing these issues and the reluctance to share are responsibilities Sleight provides with attentive support and focus in his role as a clinical psychologist.

But what exactly is stigma in the context of mental health?

According to the NMCPHC, stigma is a reluctance to share problems and seek support from friends, family, colleagues and to seek help from helping professionals such as chaplains, medical staff, counselors and professionals. mental health like Lieutenant Sleight.

There are possible negative effects due to stigma. Stigma can lead to negative beliefs that a person seeking help is weak, and also that they should instead be strong, in control and able to handle everything. Other problematic negative beliefs are that they will lose their jobs, careers, security clearances and status, or that they will be labeled, stereotyped, ostracized and discriminated against by others for seeking mental health support.

“In addressing the stigma of men seeking help, we need to understand what underlies that stigma. These are the negative attitudes or beliefs that men with behavioral health issues are somehow weaker or exemplify a weaker character, ”Sleight explained. “The perpetuation of this stigma among Western culture and concepts of masculinity is entirely contraindicated and detrimental to the strength and resilience of warriors. This can lead a disproportionate number of men to be ashamed of what they are going through, to discriminate against others, and to avoid services that can alleviate symptoms and improve functioning.

Sleight cites that one way she has actively approached reducing mental health stigma is by working with the Force Preservation Council at Naval Base Kitsap Marine Corps Security Force Battalion.

“Through this collaboration with the leadership of MCSFBn, we strive to normalize the search for mental health treatment through open and honest communication, psychoeducation and frequent collaboration between clinical psychologists. of Navy medicine, officers and independent service officers, ”Sleight noted.

Sleight’s work aligns with the Navy Surgeon’s overall priority on operational readiness, and the primary mission of ensuring the force’s medical readiness. His duty contributes directly to this standard.

“Psychological readiness is essential to maintaining operational readiness. My duty as a Navy Psychologist is to target treatment at the primary, secondary and tertiary level of care, both to prevent illness and facilitate recovery so that our Sailors and Marines are both prepared to face the l ‘adversity and stressors or getting back into shape after a period of treatment,’ Sleight pointed out.

Date taken: 07.04.2021
Date posted: 04/07/2021 11:31
Story ID: 400348
Location: BREMERTON, WA, United States
Web Views: 50
Downloads: 0

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This work, Addressing the stigma of mental health at NMRTC Bremerton, through Douglas stutz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions indicated at https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.


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Family targeted by stranger broken down in front of Newport cafe

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A FAMILY out for lunch was targeted by a stranger with a mental health episode.

The incident took place at a Newport cafe today (Sunday).

A man attempted to enter the Snacks and Ladders board game cafe on St James Street, convinced that a couple were abducting children.

The owner of the cafe, who did not wish to be named, told County Press it was clear the man had a mental health issue. This has since been confirmed by the police.

She said: “The man lives near here and we recognized him so we felt very sorry for him as he was clearly down.

“He came into our home convinced that something was wrong with the family.

“We managed to push him onto the street and lock ourselves and the family safely inside.

“My husband and father held the man outside while several of us called 999.

“About six or seven policemen arrived and handcuffed him for his own safety.

“There were no injuries and no one was injured, and the police were very kind to him and calm.”

The man was taken to St Mary’s Hospital by the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, in the presence of the police.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said: “We were called at 12:31 pm today to report a public order incident on St James Street, Newport.

“Upon arrival it was determined to be a mental health episode.

“A 43-year-old man was arrested by officers under section 136 of the Mental Health Act.

“He was transferred to the appropriate care.”


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The Mane Thing Animal Assisted Mental Welfare Department to Host Grand Opening in Spring on July 8

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The Mane Thing Animal Assisted Mental Welfare Department to Host Grand Opening in Spring on July 8

Clients don’t ride horses on horse-assisted wellness and support appointments, but instead they stroke, learn to care for, and sometimes even paint on horses. (Courtesy of The Mane Thing)

Clients don’t ride horses on horse-assisted wellness and support appointments, but instead they stroke, learn to care for, and sometimes even paint on horses. (Courtesy of The Mane Thing)

Now is the opportunity to help your local community succeed. Become a patron by contributing to Community impact journal and get daily insight into what’s going on in your own backyard. Thank you for reading and supporting community journalism.

The Mane Thing, an animal-assisted mental welfare service, will officially open on July 8 at 5203 Bryanhurst Lane, Spring. Customers can book a 1-hour session for $ 49 to learn more about equine care and create art on the side of a horse with safe paint at the Support and Wellness Center assisted by horse. The Mane Thing works with at-risk youth and those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and offers professional and personal coaching as well as peer support sessions in mental health. 281-513-8156. www.themanethingllc.com


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A Worsening Mental Health Crisis | Letters to the Editor

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For the publisher: We are writing to let Fairbanks know about a problem with mental health services.

We were recently informed that one of three counselors at our local mental health center will be removed from the Crisis Now program. Crisis Now is a very important program for Fairbanks, but it should not come at the cost of reduced service to existing customers. These changes will only leave two counselors to deal with clients with mental health needs who are dependent on staff at our local mental health center. What that means to me (Lane) is a wait of two months or more before I can reassign me to an advisor. I can barely survive without advice. There are people in our community who cannot survive without a counselor. We believe this decision is reckless. Before this change of staff, it was difficult to enter the mental health center as a new client, now it is almost impossible. The waiting times for an appointment are approximately two to five months.

We estimate that 90% of Medicare and Medicaid mental health clients in the community are served by our local mental health center. Having just two counselors is not enough to meet the needs of people with mental health problems. This has a direct impact on the delivery of services to Alaskans in need of mental health care.

We have a serious crisis in Fairbanks. This reduction in services will result in the increased number of people with mental health problems ending up in our local hospital.

The lack of metal health care is a problem for the entire Fairbanks community. We must solve this serious problem and restore the dignity of our neighbors and friends who suffer from mental health problems. I urge you to help restore the dignity of those of us who are mentally ill. Please contact the Chairman of the Mental Health Trust, the Executive Director of Alaska Behavioral Health, and your state officials and senators.


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