This is National Library Week, celebrating the many roles libraries play in their communities.
A pilot program in central Texas is using the public library system to expand mental health services in rural areas.
Residents of the four counties can receive assistance at their local public library through the Libraries for Health program.
A trained mental health peer specialist will assess the client and, if necessary, refer the client to a clinic for additional support.
This program is funded through the St. David's Foundation and works to advance health equity in Central Texas.
Abena Asante, the foundation's senior program officer, said the initiative works in partnership with the mental health community.
“It's in no way replacing a clinical psychologist,” Asante says. “This is just one example of a community response to address the lack of rural mental health resources.”
Mr. Asante said libraries are reliable and accessible gathering places for people living in rural areas. Libraries tailor programs to specific community needs based on feedback from residents.
Data collected during the 3.5-year pilot program will be used to evaluate its success. The nonprofit organization Via Hope trains peer specialists to work in libraries.
Via Hope Vice President Dr. Sandra Smith said staff draw on their own life experiences to help engage with customers.
“They must have had mental health issues at some point in their lives,” Smith said. “We don't ask them anything specific about it, we don't ask them a diagnosis. It's self-disclosure.”
The Health Library Program operates in eight libraries in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, and Williamson counties. If successful, it could be rolled out in other parts of the state.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 1 in 36 children across the United States has an autism spectrum disorder. Rates are much higher than they were a decade ago, and advocacy groups want Wisconsin communities to do more to make individuals, including adults, feel welcome.
April is Autism Acceptance Month. Advocates not only want people with the diagnosis to live the fullest life possible, but they also want those around them to learn more about the diagnosis.
Katie Hess, executive director of the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin, said there are some important habits to keep in mind.
“The truth is, what we're looking for is people who are open-minded, patient and understanding,” Hess explained.
Acceptance does not only take place at home or school. Workplaces are also encouraged to be more inclusive, with almost 60% of people with autism now employed after receiving vocational services. Their advocates said they have many strengths and asking about their needs will create a better environment for them.
Autism symptoms vary widely among people on the spectrum, including how they interact with others. Mr. Hess noted that it is important for the public to pay more attention to the development of this disorder, whether an individual is considered to have “high need” or “low need.”
“We are always learning new information, so please contact your local chapter, the Autism Society,” urged Hess. “ask a question.”
Her chapter will soon offer training programs to organizations on how to be more autism-friendly, including how to identify people on the autism spectrum and how to best support them if they reveal a diagnosis. I'm planning to start doing that.
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A Connecticut bill being considered in Congress would create peer-run respite centers to help people with mental illness.
Senate Bill 370 would establish eight centers, including three specific facilities for transgender, Spanish, and BIPOC communities. Unlike hospitalization, this program is voluntary and you are allowed to come and go.
Jordan Fairchild, executive director of the organization Keep the Promise CT, said hospitalization can disrupt a person's life.
“If someone calls 988 and says the wrong thing, or says the wrong thing to a health care provider, they end up with the police coming to their door, taking them to the hospital against their will and locking them up. “They may have been placed in a ward where they were hospitalized and possibly forced to take medication,” Fairchild outlined.
She heard stories of hospitalized transgender people who were denied hormone replacement therapy, were called dead names and had to sit in groups with harassers.
The bill received universal support during a public hearing last month, but opponents questioned how the state would pay for the program. For now, the bill has been referred to the Legislative Research Service and the Office of Fiscal Analysis.
Mindy Warren, a certified recovery specialist, came to Connecticut from Texas after a child who had been hospitalized more than 20 times came out as nonbinary. Warren said that while the hospitalization helped her develop a toolkit to address her son's mental health, there were still issues that a peer respite center could better address.
“There are still times when you deal with things like treatment-resistant depression coming back or needing a more supportive environment or just a place to go. It's kind of a regrouping and a reset,” Warren explained. .
Currently, 15 states operate peer-run respite centers, which have proven beneficial to many people, not just patients. A Washington State Department of Health report found that the centers can reduce the need for inpatient psychiatric treatment. He also noted that the center has lower costs than other facilities and has reduced Medicaid spending.
Although support for the bill is high, funding remains an issue. Their construction and staffing cost him just over $8 million, less than 1 percent of his state budget.
Matthew Brinstravas, executive director of Equality Connecticut, said it's contradictory for programs like this to be driven by money.
“This is clearly a cost-cutting measure,” Brinstrobus said. “You need resources to get up and running. So that's where we're at in the discussions right now and what we're going to see in the coming weeks in terms of what peer respite for resources will look like. You will know what position you are in.”
Centers have been shown to be less costly than more mandatory options. The median cost of a psychiatric hospitalization in Connecticut is more than $40,000, while a stay at a companion-run respite center in neighboring Massachusetts costs about $3,200.
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Residents of the Texas Panhandle are beginning to rebuild their lives after surviving the largest wildfire in the state's history.
The fire continued to burn for three weeks, destroying homes, barns and livestock. The Texas Farm Relief Fund is accepting donations for survivors.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said it's not always enough to meet the physical needs of farmers and ranchers. For mental health issues, please use the AgriStress Helpline.
“These people lost everything,” Miller noted. “We've lost over 500 homes and barns there. Many of those ranches have been there for over 100 years. They've lost their cattle, their fences, their livelihood, and it's a very stressful time. ”
Miller said the helpline is staffed 24 hours a day by professionals with more than 300 hours of training. It is part of the University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center. The helpline number is 833-897-2474.
Mr Miller explained that the mental health of people in the agricultural industry can be affected by geographic isolation, weather conditions and fluctuations in commodity prices. He added that helpline professionals are especially trained to deal with issues related to rural areas.
“We'll answer that call within 30 seconds, and we'll call you back the next day, and the next day, and the day after that,” Miller emphasized. “As long as you want us to keep checking on you, we're going to keep checking on you until you tell us not to check on you.”
Farmers and ranchers from across the country are bringing feed, hay, fencing materials and more to the Panhandle to help people rebuild. The fire burned more than 1 million acres and killed three people. Mr Miller acknowledged it would be at least two years before the full extent of the impact would be known.
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