Suicide preventions is focus of services, programs
ince 2008, the month of September has been designated as National Suicide Prevention Month, placing focus on breaking stigmas associated with mental health struggles and building awareness about the services to help those in need of support.
Imperial County Behavioral Health Services (ICBHS) wants to assure Imperial Valley residents that help is available through its programs and services for all ages experiencing suicidal ideation, whether they are facing an immediate psychiatric medical emergency or seeking ongoing treatment.
Nationally, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death across all age groups and even higher for those ages 10 to 24, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In the Imperial Valley, there has been an increasing need for suicide prevention services, especially crisis response services, said Michelle Villarreal, ICBHS’s program supervisor for the Mental Health Triage Unit, a critical part of ICBHS’s suicide prevention services.
“There is a significant need for these services,” Villarreal said.
As part of its services, ICBHS has placed great focus on providing an immediate response to those in crisis through its Crisis Care Mobile Unit (CCMU) program, which consists of staff trained in suicide prevention whose role it is to respond with law enforcement and other community agencies to individuals facing emotional or psychiatric distress.
The CCMU is made up of separate units, including: ■ The Crisis Co-Response Team (CCRT) works in collaboration with law enforcement officers in the field to provide crisis intervention and linkage to needed treatment and community services; ■ School Based Response Team (SBRT) provides mobile crisis intervention services to individuals experiencing a psychiatric or emotional crisis at the local schools; ■ Care Response Team (CRT) provides assistance to the local hospital and
ICBHS outpatient clinics; ■ Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT), which, like CCRT, will provide immediate field-based de-escalation services. The MCRT will respond to law enforcement agencies and other community agencies requesting intervention for individuals experiencing psychiatric or emotional distress. MCRT also provides outreach in communities by giving individuals the opportunity to immediately access services.
Priscilla Patino, ICBHS’ manager for the CCMU and the Mental Health Triage Unit, said the Crisis Co-Response Team, which began in November 2020 as a pilot program before expanding to the additional mobile units, are meant to ensure ICBHS can respond to those in a mental health crisis anywhere in the county.
“Under this new approach, our goal is to reach out and provide services in a more prompt manner,” Patino said.
The Mental Health Triage Unit is another key piece of ICBHS’ suicide prevention services, providing immediate therapeutic
response to individuals exhibiting acute psychiatric symptoms. The triage unit is located at ICBHS’ facility at 202 Main Street in El Centro, and provides immediate interventions, including crisis interventions, targeted case management, mental health rehabilitation services and medication support services, if recommended.
As an alternative treatment for psychiatric emergencies, ICBHS has its Casa Serena facility, also at the 202 Main Street site. Casa Serena offers comfort rooms to individuals promoting a calm environment. This therapeutic approach is accessible to clients of all ages experiencing emotional distress and is intended to help individuals identify and deescalate symptoms causing the distress. Services provided by Casa Serena will promote tranquility, mindfulness, and the reinforcement of coping skills.
Along with immediate crisis support, ICBH offers ongoing mental health treatment services through its clinics, including its Children and Adolescent,
Youth and Young Adult, and adult outpatient treatment clinics. ❖