SUMMER 2019 VOL. #7 ISSUE #1

THE BERKELEY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER

* Community * Health * Education * Empowerment * Resources *

SERVICES (payment plan for those who qualify):

Crisis Intervention

Individual Therapy

Peer Support (ages 15+)

Family Therapy

Child/Teen Therapy

Children’s School-Based Intervention

Psychiatrist & Nurse Visits

Supported Employment (IPS)

Care Coordination

Medication Financial Assistance

GROUP THERAPIES

Health & Wellness

Grief and Loss

Recovery for Life

Recovery In Motion

Youth In Transition

Social Skills Group for Girls

Stress Relief

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Parenting

“When written in Chinese the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters, one represents danger and the other opportunity.” ~ John F. Kennedy

Visit our web site at

www.berkeleymentalhealth.org

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Risk of Suicide

Suicidal thoughts or behaviors are both damaging and dangerous and are therefore considered a psychiatric emergency. Someone experiencing these thoughts should seek immediate assistance from a health or mental health care provider. Having suicidal thoughts does not mean someone is weak or flawed. According to the CDC, suicide rates have increased by 30% since 1999. Nearly 45,000 lives were lost to suicide in 2016 alone. Know the Warning Signs Threats or comments about killing themselves, also known as suicidal ideation, can begin with seemingly

harmless thoughts like “I wish I wasn’t here” but can become more overt and dangerous Increased alcohol and drug use Aggressive behavior Social withdrawal from friends, family and the community Dramatic mood swings Talking, writing or thinking about death Impulsive or reckless behavior Is There Imminent Danger? Any person exhibiting these behaviors should get care immediately: Putting their affairs in order and giving away their possessions Saying goodbye to friends and family Mood shifts from despair to calm Planning, possibly by looking around to buy, steal or borrow the tools they need to complete suicide, such as

a firearm or prescription medication If you are unsure, a licensed mental health professional can help assess risk. Risk Factors for Suicide Research has found that more than half of people (54%) who died by suicide did not have a known mental health condition. A number of other things may put a person at risk of suicide, including: A family history of suicide. Substance abuse. Drugs and alcohol can result in mental highs and lows that exacerbate suicidal thoughts. Intoxication. More than one in three people who die from suicide are found to be currently under the

influence. Access to firearms. A serious or chronic medical illness. Gender. Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are four times more likely to die by suicide. A history of trauma or abuse. Prolonged stress. Isolation. Age. People under age 24 or above age 65 are at a higher risk for suicide. A recent tragedy or loss. Agitation and sleep deprivation. Can Thoughts of Suicide Be Prevented? Mental health professionals are trained to help a person understand their feelings and can improve mental wellness and resiliency. Depending on their training they can provide effective ways to help. Psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, can help a person with thoughts of suicide recognize unhealthy patterns of thinking and behavior, validate troubling feelings, and learn coping skills. Medication can be used if necessary to treat underlying depression and anxiety and can lower a person’s risk of hurting themselves. Depending on the person’s mental health diagnosis, other medications can be used to alleviate symptoms.

nami.org

If you or someone you know needs help, please call our Mobile Crisis Unit to speak with someone at 888-202-1381 or call 911 immediately.

(Other Hotline #s listed on other side of this C.H.E.E.R.)

危机

SUMMER 2019 VOL. #7 ISSUE #1

NAMI MEETINGS

*For Individuals in Recovery

*For Family members of People Recov-ering from Mental Illness

Moncks Corner

*Individuals in Recovery only

2nd & 4th Thursday every month 1:30-2:30pm

Berkeley Community Mental Health Center

403 Stony Landing Rd

Summerville

*Both Groups meet

3rd Monday of every month 6:00-7:30pm

Bethany United Methodist Church

118 West Third South St

Suicide Hotline

Phone Numbers

9-1-1

BCMHC Crisis Unit

888-202-1381

800-273-8255

(800-273-TALK)

or Text to 838255

800-784-2433

(800-SUICIDE)

or Text to 741741

1-866-488-7386

(for LGBTQ youth)

Individual Placement and Support Program for Adults and Teens

The Individual Placement & Support Program, known throughout the Berkeley Community

Mental Center as the IPS Program, has been successfully assisting their adult patients with gaining and

maintaining employment for 15 years. During the years they have maintained the status of providing

exceptional services and being the #1 Supportive Employment Program in the State of South Carolina, under

the Department of Mental Health. The IPS team at Berkeley Community Mental Health is comprised of three

Employment Specialist, Aaron Brown, LaSeaun Crawford and Kevin Crosby, along with their Supervisor

Bernette Robinson. Together they work to ensure that every Work Candidate receives quality services with

unlimited time and support.

Most recently the IPS Program has extended their services to meet the needs of their

teenage population ages 16 and older. The program IPS for Teens specializes not only in assisting teenagers

in becoming gainfully employed but also in navigating their educational pursuits. The Employment Specialist

for the Teen’s division of IPS, has been assisting BCMHC’s teenagers in building social skills, communication

skills, and learning social etiquette that translate from the classroom to the workplace. Career Planning has

also been added in efforts to assist students in developing academic plans that would allow them to reach

their Career goals. The services offered to the teenagers of the IPS Program are tailored to meet the needs

of high school juniors and seniors include: assistance in completing FASFAs, creating time-management plans

to balance work and school, career exploration, visiting local colleges, resume writing, and on-the-job

support. With the summer fast approaching, it is the goal of the IPS Team to assist their Teenage Work

Candidates in gaining employment or joining a summer internship program related to the career of their

choice. The IPS team believes that when a person has a great support system, they can reach any goal they

have set for themselves.

Berkeley Community Mental Health Center continues to raise the bar of providing exemplary

services to the citizens of Berkeley County. The newest program, Housing Coordination, which is operated

by Stephanie Tejeda and Bernette Robinson, works to assist patients of the Center with obtaining housing,

furniture, and rental assistance. Although this program is still building, they have successfully placed one

family in a home and are working to assist one other family before the end of the fiscal year. At Berkeley

Community Mental Health Center they understand that the road to recovery takes more than therapy; it

takes support for local care, respect for the individual, professionalism and a commitment to quality care.