Representatives from TCN Behavioral Health recently distributed 200 Mental Health Care Kits to its youth clients, delivering the items to their homes or dropping kits off at schools for individuals to pick up.
The idea for the project, financially supported by the Mental Health Drug & Alcohol Services Board of Logan & Champaign Counties, started after the COVID-19 crisis shut down the schools.
In addition, May is Mental Health Awareness Month and National Prevention Week was May 10 through 16.
Representatives related that one in five children has a significantly impairing mental disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among persons aged 10 to 34 years old, according to the American Association of Suicidology.
“We were concerned about our clients who were getting counseling by our school-based therapists. It was important to us to stay in contact with these youth and find ways to support them during the shutdown,” Doug Steiner, TCN youth mental health manager said.
“We also wanted our school partners to know that we were reaching out to the students with mental health concerns during this unusual and stressful time.”
“This is not at all how any of us imagined the second semester of school coming to a close this year,” MHDAS Board Executive Director Tammy Nicholl said. “During this difficult time, the MHDAS Board was eager to support TCN to find a creative way to still connect with the students in the nine districts in Logan and Champaign Counties.”
The Care Kits were designed to provide a variety of resources for youth. Each one included written material about self-care, COVID-19, general mental health and a variety of sensory items youth may find helpful. Youths respond to different types of resources, so the staff members said they wanted to offer a variety of activities and resources.
“We know the daily schedule of school, and contact with peers and teachers, provides important structure and resources for students,” Steiner said. “Social isolation can be a significant challenge for some youth with mental health challenges.”
“It is our hope that the bags will provide ideas and activities aimed at maintaining positive mental health,” Nicholl said.
In response to receiving a Care Kit, one youth client said, “It made me feel happy and special like people care.”
“This is a neat idea,” the client’s mother said. “It’s simple and good for the kids.”
The MHDAS executive director said most of all, “we want families to know that TCN is still here and available to provide behavioral health services to anyone in need in the community, regardless of their ability to pay.
“We are here with you, we are here for you. It is okay to need help and support through this time.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression and/or suicide, help is available by contacting the local 24/7 crisis hotline at (800) 224-0422 or (937) 376-8701 or text “4hope” to 741741.