In a world that seems to change day-by-day during a pandemic, the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services Board of Logan and Champaign Counties provides a strong and steady network of local resources, supports and programming for area residents, workplaces and students to help them navigate the unusual and uncertain times.
The board’s Executive Director Tammy Nicholl and Director of Treatment and Recovery Adam Sorensen said this week that the organization is working to stay “one step ahead” on the prevention front relating to the potential for mental health issues to arise for individuals based upon the “unprecedented stress during unprecedented times.”
Recent agency programming has included trainings with safety councils from both the Logan County and Champaign County chambers of commerce to help employers identify signs and symptoms that their employees might be having difficulties.
“COVID has created different needs; people who had not struggled before are finding themselves struggling with anxiety and other issues,” Sorensen said. “Even the helpers in our community, who have been on the front lines of the pandemic, can find themselves feeling overwhelmed and needing to re-group.
“Most people are going to need the skills and reminders for how to take care of themselves during this time.”
The MHDAS officials urged anyone who is feeling the mounting strain and stress that help is available 24 hours a day at the local crisis hotline (800) 224-0422 or (937) 376-8701, or text line by texting “4Hope” to 741-741.
The agency serving Logan and Champaign counties is one of Ohio’s 51 Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Boards serving 88 counties in the state that are statutorily empowered to plan, develop, fund, administer and evaluate the local system of mental health and addiction services.
The MHDAS Board, with offices located at 1521 N. Detroit St., West Liberty, is compromised of 14 members who reside in both counties, and the focus of the agency is to provide “the right care for the people of our two counties,” according to the agency’s website, www.mhdas.org.
“Our goal is for the care to be provided in our communities when at all possible.”
In addition to serving the public’s behavioral health needs, the board collaborates with its area partners — local community mental health and chemical dependency providers, law enforcement, court systems, correctional facilities, schools, health departments, and other community organizations to fund the programs that will provide the needed level of care, Nicholl and Sorensen said.
The MHDAS Board of Logan and Champaign Counties currently operates on levy funding that was passed about 40 years ago, the executive director noted.
“Considering the difficult financial times faced by individuals in our two counties, we are not going to ask the voters for additional money at this time,” she said. “The need is growing locally, but we are trying to operate as efficiently as possible.
“We are looking to run a renewal levy to maintain funds next year in November 2021.”
Attending to local student needs is another important facet of the agency’s work. As pupils are now returning to classes after a nearly six-month hiatus, partner agency TCN Behavioral Health offers therapists in a number of the local school districts.
Nicholl related that the board also keeps close tabs on the pulse of student mental health each year through the administration of the Signs of Suicide surveys and Search Institute Developmental Assets surveys to different grade levels.
The agency is also grateful for the opportunity afforded by a new program — Handle With Care — that begins this year at each of the local school districts with the assistance of area law enforcement, the executive director said. The evidence-based initiative has potential to improve the health of students who have experienced a traumatic event in their homes and gives their teachers the tools to use to assist the youngsters through the adverse experience.
Relating to the MHDAS board’s recent addiction and substance abuse work, a unique effort has taken shape this summer to distribute a total of 1,200 Deterra drug deactivation system pouches in Logan and Champaign counties.
The Deterra pouches are a simple way for individuals to dispose of unwanted or expired medications, in addition to the local medication drop boxes that are available, Nicholl explained. The medication is placed inside the Deterra pouch and participants fill the pouch with water and wait 30 seconds. Then, they seal the pouch, shake it and dispose of it in the trash.
The pouches were distributed through several avenues, including Second Harvest Food Bank distributions, and other area partners, including Mary Rutan Hospital and Universal Home Health & Hospice Care.
This project was funded through a grant received by the Communities for On-going Recovery Efforts (CORE).
“Seven out of 10 people who abuse prescription medications get them from their family’s or friends’ medicine cabinet,” CORE members said. “We can each do our part in protecting our loved ones by disposing of unwanted, unused or expired medications.”
In another upcoming initiative, the organization also is working to localize a smart phone application, Get Help Now, that will provide a convenient way for residents of Logan and Champaign counties to find needed services. The project is funded through a federal grant received by CORE.
“We are excited for area residents to have access to this app, likely starting in early October,” said Sorensen, noting that further details will be forthcoming. “It will provide them with specialized features at their fingertips, such as showing a map to the agency they are looking for, along with the office hours.”
While the pandemic has proved difficult to weather in a number of ways, both Nicholl and Sorensen said one benefit has been the greatly expanded telehealth accessibility for individuals to therapies and doctor’s appointments.
“People are liking being able to call their doctors and therapists and conduct the visit right from the comfort of their own homes,” Nicholl said.
“This increased access is a big deal in a rural community, where transportation issues can cause difficulties,” Sorensen said.
Through their dedicated work with the MHDAS Board, both officials have seen first-hand the importance of this unrestricted access to treatment leading to successful outcomes for area residents.
“Treatment absolutely works and recovery is plausible and possible,” the director of treatment and recovery said.