Region faces shift in mental-health care

May 16--Otsego County has a plethora of community support services for people who suffer with mental illness, but there aren't many places where individuals can go if they are actually in crisis, several sources said Wednesday.

Local community resources include chapters of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Rehabilitation Support Services, support groups, presentations, clubhouses, free family and peer classes, and more. But do these resources really help individuals who are in crisis or actively seeking treatment?

According to several area sources close to the topic, the answer is yes. That's because these services are designed to prevent hospitalization and crisis situations in the first place.

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, it's important to talk about local resources and identify them, according to Kate Hewlett, a peer specialist with Otsego County'sRehabilitation Support Services.

But since the termination of psychiatric services at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta and the cutting back of psychiatric inpatient unit beds at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, patients on the verge of breakdowns don't have many immediate options.

"You end up having to go to Utica, Syracuse, Binghamton or Albany," Hewlett said Wednesday. "It's really unfortunate, especially when you want to be with your loved ones."

Patients who go to the emergency department at Bassett are given an evaluation that includes a mental health screening, according to Bassett officials. Based on these results, they are then referred for appropriate follow-up care with outpatient psychiatry services.

Bassett's inpatient psychiatric unit has 10 beds, should an individual need to be admitted. But what happens if more than 10 people need to stay?

A CHANGING MODEL

According to Hewlett and Vince Nucero, a crisis counselor with Otsego County's 24/7 Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT), the question should not be "to which hospital are we going to bring people in crisis?" but "how can we keep individuals from needing to be hospitalized?"

"People want to stay in their homes and communities for as long as they can," Hewlett said. "We've really moved away from a medical model where you would go to the hospital whenever symptoms arose. Now we are in the recovery/wellness model where there are various supports in the community and wellness plans to keep you in your community and out of a hospital room. It's designed to foster all-around wellness."

Yes, it's unfortunate and a disservice to the community not to have a designated psychiatric center nearby where patients can stay for more than three to five days. But focusing on hospitalization can sometimes be a disservice in itself, Hewlett and Nucero agreed. Keeping patients out of the hospital to begin with is the true goal.

A LIFE-SAVER

However, should a crisis present itself, one "wonderful" local resource is the 24/7 Mobile Crisis Assessment Team, which was established to help identify mental health needs in emergencies and provide early intervention to decrease the number of crisis cases, Hewlett said.

The development of MCAT has been a much-needed addition for the area, Hewlett said, and came at about the same time the Bassett's crisis center was closing. Some people use it every weekend if they need to, she added.

Through MCAT, individuals can also get referrals for treatment and be linked with the necessary services, Nucero said.

"The ultimate goal is to prevent hospitalization through de-escalation," Nucero said.

MCAT is available in Otsego, Delaware, Chenango and Schoharie Counties, according to Nucero. The agency can be reached at (877) 369-6699 or at (877) 732-6228.

Another resource for someone seeking immediate help is the Crisis Intervention Hotline, which can be reached at (877) 369-6699.

WHERE TO FIND HELP

If the situation is less urgent, there's the Warm Line, which is a resource for anyone in the area who needs confidential peer self-help, suggested referrals to community services or alternative means of finding growth and health, Hewlett said. To reach the Warm Line, call 433-1714 or (800) 377-3281.

Kim Ilowit, vice president of Otsego County'sNAMI chapter and a family support facilitator, said another important local resource is The Otsego County Community Services Single Point of Access (SPOA), a program that provides assistance in navigating county resources and coordinating services.

There's also the Mountain View Social Club, a facility run by Otsego County Rehabilitation Support Services where recovering individuals can socialize, learn coping skills, keep busy and develop hobbies, which can serve as positive coping strategies. It's located at 9 River St. in Oneonta.

To receive treatment from a psychologist or psychiatrist, individuals can visit Otsego County'sMental Health Clinic, located at 242 Main St. on the third floor in Oneonta, or the Delaware County Mental Health Clinic, located at 1 Hospital Road in Walton. These clinics provide evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for adults, families, adolescents and children residing within the county. The Clinic also offers consultation services to other county agencies.

In Otsego County alone, there are about 30 independent providers of counseling and psychiatric services, officials said.

A 'VERY GOOD THING'

Overall, Hewlett said, the shift toward a wellness model is a positive and proactive one.

"When I was diagnosed with mental illness, I was always in and out of the hospital, which was not where I wanted to be," Hewlett said. "Now, with all the supports we have, individuals can focus on wellness while staying in the communities they love and around their families. That's so important."

Need help?

--Mobile Crisis Assessment Team: (877) 369-6699 or at (877) 732-6228.

--Warm Line (advice): (607) 433-1714 or (800) 377-3281

--National suicide hotline: (800)-273-TALK

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