The importance of mental health care
At the Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health, the mental wellbeing of adults is what matters the most, and nobody is afraid of giving names to ailments that, if hidden, have severe consequences: depression, bipolarity, schizophrenia, anxiety, dementia, autism, and PTSD.
For most Hispanics it is difficult to speak about mental care, even more so if you are undocumented and have no health insurance that can get you through therapy. Still, Tulsa offers a solution for those in need, a place where everyone is welcomed, regardless of their legal status or skin color.
“We take people regardless of their ability to pay,” said Dr. Crystal Hernandez, executive director for the center. “We are a state facility and we serve everybody, if they are adults. We treat them and get them to a place of stability and discharge them as a whole person with the best outcome.”
“In the case of undocumented [patients] we lean on our nonprofit partnerships, entities that can help the patients after they leave the institution,” she clarified, aware of the fears that may accompany coming into such a facility.
Patients have different backgrounds at the local psychiatric hospital; they may come ordered by the court, by law enforcement, by a concerned family member or even might volunteer to get help to keep themselves safe and healthy. And they stay at the institution as long as it takes to make them whole again, a job that is only for those with kind hearts.
“The gravity of the responsibility put in our hands when we are helping people in need is great, but the feelings that we have about changing someone’s life, allowing them to see the hope of tomorrow, is worth it,” said Hernandez, recognizing that her team is full of outstanding people who work daily to have a positive impact in the lives of others.
At the TCBH they offer counseling, different types of therapies, psychiatric care, and also assessment for certain disabilities. It is a state facility that relies upon public funds and Medicaid bills, but there is never enough money to guarantee all the patients’ needs. In this mental care facility the goal is not only alleviating psychical conditions, but paving the way for a suitable life for patients outside the hospital.
“When discharging our patients, we make sure we can help them get a suitable living arrangement, making sure they have Medicaid or some kind of insurance, adequate transportation to get to their appointments, all the things they need to face the fears of life, so that they have a greater chance to never see us again,” said Hernandez.
Dr. Hernandez comes from a Hispanic family and knows how difficult it is to reach out in times of trouble, which is one reason she takes her work so seriously and advocates for new voices to play their part.
“It’s ok to ask for help and to realize that life is hard. We need to be included, our voices do matter, and we can be a part of the solution to create a system that serves us,” she said, acknowledging that Latinos are a minority at the hospital, but one she would like to see grow in the near future.
“I want them to know they can work here, they can come for service, and they can receive help. Hispanics are welcome,” she said fervently proud of her role as a Hispanic leader and care provider.
Soon, the hospital will work side by side with the UMA Center of Tulsa to offer peer support around the state and help those people who are too afraid to take the first step.
“This is an outreach program that will allow us to embed ourselves into the community instead of expecting them to come to us,” explained the doctor.
Dr. Hernandez is a representative of the Hispanic community who wants to offer a solution for those who believe there are none, or are not aware of their options. Follow her advice, take your health into your own hands, and reach out to the Tulsa Center of Behavioral Health, where mental care is all that matters.
The Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health is located at 2323 S Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK, United States. For an appointment call 918-293-2140. (La Semana)