September 07, 2021
September is National Recovery Month. Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover. Each September, we aim to educate our community about substance use disorders and promote our services to help those with substance use disorders live healthy and rewarding lives.
At PPI, the hard work that goes into a successful treatment plan often goes unnoticed. We are proud of our staff members who help to facilitate the recovery process, but we are the proudest of our patients who have put in the work and have been successful in their recovery. Effective treatment and successful recoveries only benefit the members of our community.
Opioid use disorder is on the rise, and the COVID-19 disease has a large part to play in this upturn. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of June 2020, 13% of Americans reported starting or increasing substance use as a way of coping with stress or emotions related to COVID-19. Overdoses have also spiked since the onset of the pandemic. In early months substance use increased 18% nationwide in overdoses compared with those same months in 2019. The trend has continued throughout 2020, according to the American Medical Association, which reported in December that more than 40 U.S. states have seen increases in opioid-related mortality along with ongoing concerns for those with substance use disorders. (source CDC)
The epidemic is overwhelming, but it is important to remember that people do recover. It is possible to overcome addiction. You are not alone. It’s just a matter of reaching out for help, and then getting connected with effective, evidence based, comprehensive treatment.
PPI is providing that help with their innovative Advancement In Recovery (AIR) Program. Through a combination of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and intensive counseling, people with opioid use disorder are getting a second chance to live a fulfilling life.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
September 03, 2021
Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This is a time to raise awareness on this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic.
• 78% of all people who die by suicide are male.
• Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are nearly 4x more likely to die by suicide.
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10–34 and the 10th leading cause of death overall in the U.S.
• The overall suicide rate in the U.S. has increased by 35% since 1999.
• 46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition.
• While nearly half of individuals who die by suicide have a diagnosed mental health condition, research shows that 90% experienced symptoms.
• Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide, by U.S. demographic group:
◦ 4.8% of all adults
◦ 11.8% of young adults aged 18-25
◦ 18.8% of high school students
◦ 46.8% of lesbian, gay and bisexual high school students
• Some of the highest rates of suicide in the U.S. are among American Indian/Alaska Native and non-Hispanic white communities.
• Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are 4x more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth.
• Transgender adults are nearly 12x more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.
• Suicide is the leading cause of death for people held in local jails.
• If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately.
• If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255)
• If you are employed or have insurance, you can call the behavioral health phone number on the back of your health insurance card or see if your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• If you’re uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
#Suicideisnottheanswer
#Gethelp
Source: CDC, NIMH, NAMI
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
August 23, 2021
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach in the human service field that assumes that an individual is more likely than not to have a history of trauma. A trauma-informed approach to care recognizes that health care organizations and care teams need to have a complete picture of a patient’s life situation to provide effective care. TIC recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role trauma may play in an individual’s life.
Trauma-Informed Care is based on six key principles set forth by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
1. Safety so that staff and patients feel physically and psychologically safe.
2. Trustworthiness and Transparency among staff, patients, and family members.
3. Peer Support for building trust, establishing safety, and empowerment.
4. Collaboration and Mutuality that recognizes everyone has a role to play in a trauma-informed approach.
5. Empowerment, Voice and Choice where individuals’ strengths are recognized, built on, and validated and new skills developed.
6. Cultural, Historical and Gender Issues in which the organization actively moves past cultural stereotypes and biases.
Chad Sibbitt, CTRS, is Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute’s (PPI) Trauma Informed Care Lead. As a TIC Lead, Chad oversees the TIC initiative at PPI. He helps to lead and guide PPI staff through training, policies, and debriefing.
“For training, we provide materials during crisis intervention training at orientation as well as TIC sessions. This fall, we will have four opportunities for staff to get support through sessions that will also count as CEU credits. The topics we will be covering will be guiding concepts and tools, recognizing our own needs, listening to trauma, and symptoms of trauma exposure”, explains Chad.
“We are working to update the hospital policies and procedures, adding in sections where TIC can benefit the situation. For example, we recently added to a section about fire alarms going off. The alarms can be triggering to certain individuals and being aware of our environment and how it impacts the individuals we care for betters how we can provide individualized care.”
“Personable interaction is key. Trauma talk can be triggering, and so we prefer to provide support in person as best as possible. Debriefing occurs when there is an event in the hospital like a death or significant staff event. When there is an event in the hospital, TIC offers calls to help those who were involved process the situation. TIC also offers multiple follow-up debriefing calls post-event as needed.”
The TIC program has been developing at PPI over the past few years. Though Chad has only been the lead for the past year, he has big goals. “I strive to be more TIC in practice. I’d love to have technique classes for everyone every 6 months where we can talk about TIC and the impact it could have on someone during daily tasks (like with restraints, for example). We are working on signage to help remind families, patients, and staff of TIC currently, though I hope to one day be able to incorporate TIC into the community through volunteers to create more awareness. I also think it would be great to have a lead therapist involved in the TIC initiatives.”
Though not nearly where they want to be, the TIC team at PPI is working in phases towards improvement. Wanting to get more staff involved to empower them and have them be part of something that makes a difference, they are rolling out a brand-new TIC award to honor staff members who are making a difference.
“We have seen improvements with the care provided by our staff because of this program. Our staff members have learned to be more aware. It is not taking a ‘what’s wrong with you’ mentality but instead coming from a ‘what happened to you’ angle when it comes to patients. Not getting caught up in the behavior as much as identifying what caused it helps us to problem solve and better treat the source of the issue.”
“TIC has grown at PPI within other areas as well, such as our patient experience committee. If we have a patient who does not feel safe, we try to find out why. Getting to the reason why means we can be proactive in meeting their needs. This could mean adapting their environment – we have comfort rooms, and weighted blankets for sensory support.”
“Since implementing TIC practices, we have noticed the restraint usage and seclusion numbers are decreasing. I would attribute our staff being proactive and aware of picking things up before they escalate to being a cause of this decrease.”
TIC is not only to better the care of PPI’s patients but for PPI staff as well. “This line of work can be hard on our staff. To prevent burnout, we have two units working to set up staff comfort areas so staff can get away for a few minutes post challenging experiences. Becoming more of a TIC organization across the board would improve environment and staff retainment. Mental health is a challenging field to work in, compassion fatigue impacts people daily. Everyone has their own personal experience. Compassion fatigue and burnout can bleed into our personal lives. We offer debriefing, support and resources, so our staff feels heard and valued. By creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive, and reminding individuals of the difference they make, I hope to increase the conversations surrounding TIC and spread awareness beyond the walls of PPI.
“The dedication of our leadership in relation to TIC is there. By creating a position to promote TIC throughout our organization, setting aside funding for TIC, and creating opportunities for TIC [through education, orientation, etc.], our leadership shows their dedication to supporting and creating healthy relationships by making TIC an integral part.”
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
June 28, 2021
Public and Community Psychiatry (PCP) is a growing field across the nation. Critical to promoting not only individuals but also local populations, the importance of the work of community psychologists are highlighted by the recent pandemic, election tension, and racial issues.
Historically, it has been hard for minority and low socioeconomic patients to get the help they need. Through PCP programs, patients with often complex needs receive publicly funded services (through government sponsored Medicare/Medicaid and government sponsored programs at the local level).
“A great thing we are seeing is a trend with younger psychiatrists who are showing interest in Public and Community Psychiatry. They are moving away from the traditional private practice model and want to help patients with an open door – meeting the needs of any patient who desires help” notes Alison Swigart, MD, the fellowship’s new Program Director.
“For many, the social determinants of health (housing, neighborhood, financial resources) are often outside of their control and impact the ease of which they can access care. What’s unique about the PCP program is that it helps bridge that gap for these patients. Another unique part of PCP is that we look at things from a biopsychosocial perspective. Meaning, it is more than just genetics that determines someone’s risk of mental illness. We look at the whole person – their current circumstances, what causes distress – looking at the person versus solely prescribing medications helps create better overall outcomes.”
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI) is proud to offer a relatively new fellowship program partnering with Penn State Health. One of four fellowships of its kind in Pennsylvania, the Public and Community Psychiatry Fellowship at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a one-year, non-ACGME-accredited program that accepts two fellows per year. “As we complete our first year with this program (2020-2021), we are getting ready to graduate our first fellow.” Dr. Swigart mentions.
New in this role since February 2021, Dr. Swigart is responsible for the recruitment and supervision of the PCP program’s fellows for their clinical work and the rotation in community psychiatry for Penn State general residents. “What I like about this role is that there are only four fellowships like this across the state and we all get to collaborate with each other and the PA Psychiatric Leadership Council. The council partners with the state to address the shortage in the public behavioral health sector. We get to meet regularly with them to discuss the fellows and educational initiatives across the four PA fellowships. Through our dedication and partnership, all four fellowship sites have been designated centers of excellence in community psychiatry training by the PA Psychiatric Leadership Council” explains Dr. Swigart.
“What makes our fellowship stand out from the others is the focus on mental health advocacy. We are able to take advantage of our proximity to capitol and meet with legislators. We also offer flexibility with the clinical experience, designing it based on experience. Most do a combo of clinical care at PPI and at a community behavioral health organization that PPI partners with to experience different care settings.”
“One of our goals in this fellowship is to train our psychologists to be effective leaders in the field; to be able to help improve the whole system of mental health care over the long run. One of the unique aspects of this fellowship is that they get to design a seminar on mental health advocacy. Our current fellow worked with someone experienced in advocacy while he did research on food insecurity and its impact on mental health. He was then able to present his findings to members of the PA state legislature and suggest strategies to improve access to food to patients with mental health problems. He also had the opportunity to complete the Penn State College of Medicine health systems science academy, which helps health care providers understand how health systems work and how to change them.”
Currently, we as a nation are experiencing a shortage of well-trained psychiatrists practicing in hospital settings for the underserved populations that really need it. This lack can be felt even more so in PA. Supported by an initiative by the PA office of mental health and substance abuse, the PCP fellowship at PPI is part of an initiative to recruit and maintain high-quality psychiatrists in Pennsylvania.
“The initiation of this fellowship really demonstrates the commitment of PPI and their partnership with Penn State College of Medicine to improving mental health and improving the population in central PA” proudly states Dr. Swigart.
Learn more about the Public and Community Psychiatry Fellowship at: https://residency.med.psu.edu/programs/public-community-psychiatry-fellowship/ .
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
June 14, 2021
Pronouns are the common way we refer to each other in the third person: he/him/his, she/her/hers, they/them/theirs. The pronouns we use usually imply gender, though many of us never had to think about them before as we more commonly talk about people who identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. The reason why pronouns matter so much is because they are so intertwined with our identities.
Our gender identity comes with the pronouns we want to be referred by. A change in gender identity means a change in pronouns. Being considerate of someone’s pronouns lets them know you respect them as a person.
The Trevor Project reports that transgender and nonbinary youth who report having their pronouns respected by all or most of the people in their lives attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected.
Accidentally misgendering someone can happen, but before assuming, just ask!
How do you ask?
| PRONOUNS | IN A SENTENCE | PRONUNCIATION |
|---|---|---|
| SHE/HER/HERS | She wants you to use her pronouns | |
| HE/HIM/HIS | He wants you to use his pronouns | |
| ZE/HIR | Ze wants you to use hir pronouns | Listen here |
| THEY/THEM/THEIRS | They want you to use their pronouns | |
| CO/COS | Co wants you to use cos pronouns | |
| NO PRONOUN/NAME (USER THE PERSON’S NAMES INSTEAD OF A PRONOUN) | ___ (name) wants to use ___ (name) pronouns | |
| XE/XEM/XYR | Xe wants you to use xem pronouns |
Table from Why Pronouns Are Important (lakeforest.edu)
Gender inclusive practices:
• Use inclusive, non-discriminatory language.
• Make gender visible when it is relevant for communication.
◦ Provide your gender pronouns on your name tag.
◦ Include your pronouns in your email signature.
• Only ask for sex or gender on applications if it’s critical or necessary information.
It can take time to get someone’s pronouns right. Apologize if you make a mistake and try your best to correct it. Remember, respecting someone means also respecting their pronouns.
For more information about pronouns, check out the following resources:
• What Are Pronouns? Why Do They Matter? — MyPronouns.org Resources on Personal Pronouns
• What Are Pronouns and Why Do They Matter? | University of Utah Health
• Why Pronouns Are Important (lakeforest.edu)
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
June 01, 2021
During Mental Health Awareness Month this year, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) continues to amplify their “You Are Not Alone” message as millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. In fact, the statistics may surprise you.
June is LGBTQ Pride Month. An annual event starting after the Stonewall riots that happened in 1969 New York City, each June is dedicated to celebrating and recognizing the impact the LGBTQ community has had on our history. It is also dedicated to remembering those who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS.
Pride is about people embracing who they are and coming together to show how far gay rights have come. Individuals in the LGBTQ community come from all walks of life, and according to the latest Gallop poll, the LGBT community is growing:
Finding strength and belonging in the LGBTQ community is common, however it is not without its own challenges. Members of this community are at higher risk for mental health conditions, so it’s important to understand how your sexual orientation and gender identity can impact your mental health.
Although many know Pride Month for the colorful events and celebrations, it is about more than that. It is about raising awareness on LGBTQ issues and the gay rights movement. Though we have made significant advances for equality, we still have a long way to go. This month, we encourage you to learn more about how you can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community and support this celebration of acceptance and love.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
References:
June is LGBT Pride Month | Youth.gov
LGBTQI | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
LGBT Statistics for 2021 - Minority Times
May 14, 2021
During Mental Health Awareness Month this year, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) continues to amplify their “You Are Not Alone” message as millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. In fact, the statistics may surprise you.
You Are Not Alone
Annual prevalence of mental illness among U.S. adults, by demographic group:
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI) provides behavioral health services to the residents of central Pennsylvania and the surrounding regions. We create specialized mental health treatment programs for children and adolescents, adults and mature adults so that the unique needs of each group can be addressed separately.
If you or someone you know needs to seek assistance, please call our Admissions department at 866-746-2496 or (717) 782-6493.
If you are a person in need of immediate assistance, please go to your nearest Emergency Department or dial 911.
May 13, 2021
April 30, 2021
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI) provides behavioral health services to the residents of central Pennsylvania and the surrounding regions. We create specialized mental health treatment programs for children and adolescents, adults and mature adults so that the unique needs of each group can be addressed separately.
This year the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) continues to amplify their “You Are Not Alone” message. This is a time we should prioritize mental health, focusing on connecting in safe ways. Even if you are in a good place mentally, when reaching out to friends and family, you can keep their best interests in mind by looking out for the symptoms below.
Warning Signs of Mental Illness:
If you or someone you know needs to seek assistance, please call our Admissions department at 866-746-2496 or (717) 782-6493.
If you are a person in need of immediate assistance, please go to your nearest Emergency Department or dial 911.
April 23, 2021
This year, Patient Experience week is April 26-30. Patient Experience Week is an annual event to celebrate the healthcare staff impacting patient experience. Inspired by members of the Institute community, this week provides a focused time for organizations to celebrate accomplishments, re-energize efforts and honor the people who impact the patient experience every day.
Jason Kibler, MBA, LPC, is Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute’s (PPI) Director of Quality and the Chair of Patient Experience. When asked about ensuring quality patient experiences, Kibler responded, “First, and most importantly, we try to get as much feedback from our patients as possible. This is through both formal surveys and informal conversations during the course of treatment. Based on this feedback, we identify areas to focus on as performance improvement opportunities to ensure that we are constantly working to improve the patient’s experience.”
“We want 100% of our customers to have a great experience at PPI. Our patients should feel cared for and valued. They should feel safe while receiving services. They should feel that their treatment needs are being addressed. We are working towards a customer service program where these core values, along with some others, are consistently evident in all our interactions with patients.”
When asked about the beneficial changes PPI has been able to implement because of these practices, Kibler noted, “In recent years we have been able to make positive changes in the physical treatment environment, largely based on patient feedback. In addition, we have made some changes to both our admission and discharge processes that have led to an improved patient experience. Our CEO, Kimberly Feeman, has made improving the patient’s experience a top priority at PPI, and we have a large number of ongoing projects planned for the next year that we are excited about.”
PPI is grateful for Jason Kibler and the rest of the PPI staff who make it a point each day to make sure each patient who comes through our doors has a great experience.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
April 13, 2021
April 13, 2021
April 08, 2021
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI) is nestled in central Pennsylvania – a great place to live that is located just a short drive away from many major metropolitan areas.
Yassir Mahgoub, MD, started his training through a residency program with Penn State and PPI. Once he finished his residency, he followed his wife to New York as she was finishing a program of her own. After three years working at a medical center in Brooklyn, they decided to return to their PA roots.
“The cost of living in New York was too high, and I had personal goals of being in academia” explains Dr. Mahgoub. “Penn State and PPI offered an academic position with opportunity for research, clinical work and inpatient services. I was already familiar with their programs from residency and being back in an area with very solid and excellent schools with a reasonable cost of living for a family just made sense.”
Now back in the Hershey area, Dr. Mahgoub has been back at PPI for almost two years. Dr. Mahgoub is currently a staff psychiatrist at PPI, inpatient psychiatrist, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the Penn State School of Medicine.
“I enjoy working at PPI because I get to balance clinical work with research and academic opportunities. I get to work with medical students and residents alongside my peers in a supportive and caring environment.”
Another one of our psychiatrists, Alison Swigart, MD, moved to central PA from out of state because of the advantages that PPI and this area offer. Dr. Swigart is an Attending Psychiatrist at PPI, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and the Program Director for Public & Community Psychiatry Fellowship at Penn State College of Medicine.
Following her residency and staying to work in Providence, RI, to work for five years, Dr. Swigart joined the team at PPI in 2018.
“I wanted to move somewhere that had an academic medical center, but that wasn’t in a big city.
Relocating back to central PA with our two sons, living on the West Shore just made sense. Housing is reasonable. We can have space in our backyard for our boys and the public schools are good. Not to mention we are much closer to family” mentions Dr. Swigart.
“What was appealing to me about working for PPI was that I could work in an academic institution and still perform clinical care while teaching and educating residents, fellows and medical students. And only having to be on call three weekends a year is a huge bonus!”
“PPI serves an important service in our community; it makes a big impact on a community that has needs. At PPI, we have the opportunity to make a real impact in the community where our help is needed.”
“There is strong teamwork and a collaborative attitude with the staff here. PPI has a collegial and supportive atmosphere among the physicians. We have each other’s backs and can go to one another for advice. There is a great interdisciplinary team of behavioral health professionals that provides our patients with excellent care.”
“We also have strong physician leadership. Our Chief Medical Officer, Elisabeth Kunkel, MD, is focused on quality improvement. She focuses on the quality and access to care for our patients and career development for physicians” notes Dr. Swigart.
Equally as enthused about her new peers, Dr. Kunkel notes “The physicians we recruit to PPI and to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health are intelligent, accomplished, creative, and enthusiastic about being part of our PPI academic-community team.”
“This year we wanted to provide additional faculty development support by recruiting in 3 new people to support faculty in their academic projects, academic career development, and research. All our faculty work well together as a team and garner mentorship and academic support from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the Medical Center. The area has a lower cost of living, great schools, beautiful trails, and lots of activities to enjoy. People are friendly and there is a real sense of community. I would be delighted to speak to anyone interested in a position at Penn State Health and Psychiatry.”
If you are interested about joining the team at PPI, please contact Erica Geist at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for additional information.
March 19, 2021
Unfortunately, drug and alcohol addiction is negatively affecting millions of people all over the world every day.
Did you know?
Drug and alcohol addiction, or a substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person’s behavior and brain and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication.
For some, addiction can start with socially with experimental use that gradually becomes more frequent. For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction begins with exposure to prescribed medications, or receiving medications from a friend or relative who has been prescribed the medication.
The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by the substance. As time passes, you may need larger doses of the substance to get the same effects. Soon you may need it just to feel good. As your drug use increases, you may find that it is increasingly difficult to go without it. Attempts to stop using the substance may cause intense cravings and cause you to feel physically ill and experience withdrawal symptoms.
If you are currently struggling with drug or alcohol addiction or know someone who is, now is the time for you to do something about it. You may need help from your doctor, family, friends, support groups or an organized treatment program to overcome your addiction and stay substance-free.
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute’s Advancement in Recovery (AIR) Program offers a comprehensive Medication Assisted Treatment Program for individuals struggling with Opioid Use Disorder. The AIR team consists of medical doctors and clinicians, all of whom have expertise in dealing with opioid use disorders and the transition to Buprenorphine, Methadone, and Vivitrol. The team provides support for patients throughout all phases of treatment.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
One week each year, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) observes National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW). A health observance week for teens that aims to SHATTER THE MYTHS® about drug and alcohol use. It links students with scientists and other experts to counteract the myths about drugs and alcohol that teens get from the internet, social media, TV, movies, music, or from friends. Teens, scientists and other experts come together to discuss how drugs affect the brain, body, and behaviors, in community and school events all over America. This year, NDSFW will be held Monday, March 22 - Sunday, March 28. Chat Day for 2021 will be held Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Visit the NIDA website for more info.
March 18, 2021
March is Social Work Month — a time to celebrate the great profession of social work. The theme for Social Work Month 2021 is Social Workers Are Essential.
Social workers are essential to the well-being of our community. They are trained to help people address personal and systemic barriers to optimal living. They are employed to effect positive change with individuals, families, groups and entire communities.
At PPI, our Social Services Department includes different disciplines: nurses, LPCs, recreation and expressive therapists and social workers. Not all our Social Services staff are social workers, but their jobs involve helping our patients beyond their time with PPI. Essentially, the role of our Social Services Department is acknowledging the needs our patients have and empowering them to succeed based on their strengths. They acknowledge everyone’s ability to recover as an individual.
The staff in our social work department provide clinical work for our patients such as:
“A large aspect of social work is being the voice for the patient. We are empowering them to speak up for their needs. We work with them to reach short goals and identify long-term goals for their personal recovery.” Explains Emily Vazquez, LSW, the new Care Coordination Supervisor in the Social Services Department.
Emily began her career at PPI in 2012 as a care coordinator and worked her way up to her current supervisor role. Previously performing assessments and discharge planning/ connecting with community services, her new role now includes managing the department’s three parts: care coordination, therapy and certified peer specialists.
Her previous counterpart, Karen Sandnes, LCSW, is retiring after serving PPI and our local community since the inception of PPI in 2008. “The personality and the roles we each play in the Social Services Department was shaped by Karen’s work” acknowledged Emily. “For example, she had a vision for creating a role for peer specialists, who have gone through our programs and can relate to our current patients. She started numerous programs and landed grants to help our department succeed.”
PPI is indebted to Karen and all she has done not only for our institute, but for our patients and our community during her time with us over the past thirteen years. We wish her the best in her retirement and will miss her dearly!
During Social Work Month take time to learn more about the many positive contributions of the profession and celebrate all the social workers you know. PPI is grateful for our social workers and all our hardworking employees in our Social Services Department!
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
February 24, 2021
February 22 to the 28th is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. The goal of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is to shine a light on eating disorders by educating the public, spread a message of hope and put resources into the hands of those who need it.
An eating disorder is a condition characterized by irregular or abnormal eating habits. Some common eating disorders are:
There are some alarming facts when it comes to eating disorders:
A huge supporter of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is the National Eating Disorders Association – the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. This year, they are inviting Every Body to Have a Seat at the Table.
“In a field where marginalized communities continue to be underrepresented, we welcome conversations on raising awareness, challenging systemic biases, and sharing stories from all backgrounds and experiences.”
PPI wants to help spread this information to help our community get better and stay healthy. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, reach out for help today.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
February 22, 2021
During Black History Month, we are highlighting some of the top Black professionals in the mental health field that many have not heard of.
This week we are highlighting Freda C. Lewis-Hall, M.D., DFAPA, one of the largest and most significant players in the field of medication and pharmaceuticals, and her story as a black female doctor is empowering and humbling.
Born in 1955 in Baltimore, MD, Freda C. Lewis-Hall dreamed of becoming a doctor from a young age.
Her first year in medical school was the most difficult year of her life. Medical school to begin with is an uphill battle, a few weeks into her classes, the steep path became even more daunting when her future husband, Randy, was sent to immediate exploratory surgery to check out a suspicious mass. Cancer. Constant worry and frequent trips to visit Randy started to interfere with her studies, though she persevered and somehow passed her exams, and Randy was on the mend.
The good news was short lived however, as tragedy struck over summer break when her mother unexpectedly passed away from a stroke. The shock of the unanticipated loss while attempting to care for her family and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandmother drained her physically and emotionally. She returned to medical school ready to take a leave of absence, fully aware that the chances of her returning if doing so would be slim.
By chance, on her way to request leave, she ran into her mentor, Dr. Lasalle D. Leffall, Jr., a legendary surgeon and professor. He listened as she spoke of her rationale for leave. He told her that he believed in her promise as a healer and as a leader and understood the pressures. Was she ready to give up on a dream that she had since she was six?
Freda went on to earn her B.S. degree from Johns Hopkins University and her medical doctorate from Howard University in Washington, DC.
Freda spent her first few years as a medical professional working on the frontlines of psychiatric care, earning recognition as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. She was also an associate professor of the Department of Psychiatry for Howard University.
She then transitioned into working behind the scenes in a career in biopharmaceuticals bringing her expertise and experience of years in the field of psychiatry and mental health into the process of developing medication. She served as Pfizer, Inc.’s Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President until the end of 2018 and as Chief Patient Officer and Executive Vice President during 2019.
In these roles, Dr. Lewis-Hall expanded outreach to patients, reshaped the focus on patient engagement and inclusion, improved health information and education and amplified the voice of the patient within company culture and decision-making. She was responsible for the safe, effective and appropriate use of Pfizer medicines and vaccines.
Among her other various accomplishments are:
Freda C. Lewis-Hall, MD is tough, to say the least, and her continued involvement in mental health makes her a role model for aspiring psychiatrists and mental health professionals.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
February 15, 2021
During Black History Month, we are highlighting some of the top Black professionals in the mental health field that many have not heard of.
Today we are highlighting the first Black male and female to receive their PhD in psychology. Francis Cecil Sumner, PhD, and Inez Beverly Prosser, PhD.
America’s first black female psychologist, Inez Beverly Prosser, PhD, was born around 1897 to Samuel Andrew and Veola Hamilton Beverly in the small town of Yoakum, Texas. Not much is known about her early years besides the fact she was the oldest daughter of 11 children. A bright student, she graduated valedictorian from Yoakum Colored High School in 1912 and then went on to receive a degree in teacher training from Prairie View Normal College where she was also valedictorian. Though common today, in her time, education beyond high school was not common, especially for a woman. Even more unheard of was an African American woman with a college degree.
After receiving her degree, she went back to Yoakum and taught for a short time at their segregated schools, before accepting a teaching position in Austin, where she took up classes at Samuel Huston College. In around 1924, she graduated with distinction from Samuel Huston with a major in education. Shortly after her graduation she married Rufus A. Prosser. Unable to stay away from academia, Inez decided to continue her education obtained a Master of Arts degree in educational psychology from the University of Colorado. She then accepted a position at Tillotson College teaching education, where she was recognized as an excellent teacher and leader. Then from 1921 to 1930 Inez served as dean and registrar at Tillotson College. In 1931 Inez was awarded the Rockefeller Foundation General Education Board Fellowship because of her excellent and well-known work as a teacher.
In 1933 she received a PhD, one of the first African American women to accomplish this in the United States, in educational psychology from the University of Cincinnati. Her dissertation, which received a huge amount of recognition, was on The Non-Academic Development of Negro Children in Mixed and Segregated Schools. It was also one of the earliest treatises on the social domain of elementary school children.
During Inez’s lifetime she established a fund, while completing her own education, that enabled her sisters and brothers to obtain a college education. Of the eleven brothers and sisters, all completed high school and six further completed a college education. Then in 1934, tragedy struck as Inez Beverly Prosser was killed in an automobile accident near Shreveport, Louisiana.
Inez Beverly Prosser, PhD, was a strong-willed individual who beat the odds, and if not for a terrible accident, would have been able to make even more contributions to psychology as we know it.
Francis Cecil Sumner is called “the Father of Black Psychology,” because he was the first Black man to earn his PhD in psychology.
Francis Cecil Sumner was born in Arkansas in 1895. As a teenager without a high school education, Francis was self-taught after his elementary school years and was able to pass an entrance exam to Lincoln University, at the age of 15, and graduate magna cum laude with honors.
He later enrolled at Clark University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1916. Although he was approved as a PhD candidate, he could not begin his doctoral dissertation because he was drafted into the army during World War I. Upon returning from the war, he reenrolled in the doctoral program and in 1920, his dissertation titled “Psychoanalysis of Freud and Adler” was accepted.
Francis’ focus in psychology was on “race psychology” where he was interested in understanding racial bias and supporting educational justice. Besides “race psychology,” he also studied color and vision, as well as the psychology of religion. He was one of the first people in academia to contribute to the fields of psychology, religion and the administration of justice together.
Francis became a professor at various universities and managed to publish several articles despite the refusal of research agencies to provide funding for him because of his color. He worked with the Journal of Social Psychology and the Psychological Bulletin, writing abstracts. His students described him as motivating and encouraging.
Francis Sumner is credited as one of the founders of the psychology department at Howard University, which he chaired from 1928 until his death in 1954. Under the leadership of Francis and his colleagues, Howard University became a major force in the education of African American psychology students. Though the psychology department at Howard did not offer the PhD degree in psychology until 1972, nevertheless, by 1972, 300 African Americans had earned PhDs in psychology from U.S. colleges and universities. 60 of which had previously received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from the Department of Psychology at Howard. One of Francis’ students, Kenneth Bancroft Clark, would emerge as the most successful and influential African American psychologist of the 20th century.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
February 12, 2021
February 08, 2021
During Black History Month, we want to highlight some of the top Black professionals in the mental health field that many have not heard of.
Our second spotlight is on Maxie Clarence Maultsby, Jr, M.D. Born in Pensacola, Florida on April 24, 1932, Maultsby focused on his studies all the way through medical school. He earned his M.D. in 1957 from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Upon graduation from medical school, he worked as an intern for one year at the Philadelphia General Hospital, before returning to Florida to become a General Practitioner of Medicine. From 1962-1966 he was a medical officer in the US Air Force, before working for several hospitals associated with the University of Wisconsin through a Psychiatry Residency. During this time, he also participated in an intensive training in Behavior Therapy at the Eastern Psychiatric Institute, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
His Psychiatric Residency with the University of Wisconsin led to Maultsby joining the University of Wisconsin, Madison medical faculty in 1970. During his time there, he formalized psychiatric approach of his own creation called Rational Behavior Therapy. In 1973 he founded the Training and Treatment Center for Rational Behavior Therapy, where his method became increasingly influential.
Maultsby and his approach with Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT) made several unique contributions to psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
RBT has continued to grow in influence since its beginning and has practitioners in many continents across the globe. In addition to founding the RBT psychotherapy, he also founded the emotional self-help technique called Rational Self-Counseling and the New Self-Help Alcoholic Relapse Prevention Treatment Method.
Maultsby became the Chair of Howard University’s Department of Psychiatry in 1989 and was given the title of Emeritus Professor in 2004. In 2011, Maultsby also became a Professor in the Psychiatry Residence Training Program, at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, under the Department of Mental Health in Washington D.C.
An American psychiatrist, author of several books on emotional and behavioral self-management, elected Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists, Maxie Clarence Maultsby Jr., M.D., passed away on August 28, 2016, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Learn more about Maxie Clarence Maultsby, Jr, MD, and his other accomplishments here.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
February 02, 2021
During Black History Month, we want to highlight some of the Black professionals that have been pioneers in the mental health field that many have not heard of.
Starting off our spotlight is PA native, Bebe Moore Campbell. Born on February 18, 1950, in Philadelphia, Elizabeth Bebe Moore was the only child of Philadelphia native Doris Carter Moore, a social worker, and George Moore, a college graduate from North Carolina.
Campbell grew up to be an author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who worked diligently to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black and other underrepresented communities. In her later work, Campbell examined mental illness from a child’s viewpoint in her illustrated children’s story Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry. This book provided helpful prose for young readers with a family member suffering from bipolar disorder. Stemming from bipolar disorder being an issue in her own family, she would continue the theme on mental health in her next book, 72 Hour Hold.
“We don’t want to talk about it,” she explained in one of her last interviews to Kenneth Meeks of Black Enterprise, of her involvement in the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), whose Inglewood, California, chapter she co-founded. “I didn’t want to talk about it, either. I went into denial. I was ashamed. I was very stigmatized by this illness that had no business in my family.”
Finding comfort in dealing with her family’s experiences with mental illness in support groups, her work in founding NAMI-Inglewood in a predominantly Black neighborhood to create a space that was safe for Black people to talk about mental health concerns.
Sadly, she passed away in Los Angeles on November 27, 2006, from brain cancer at the age of 56.
On June 2, 2008, congress formally recognized July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face regarding mental illness in the US.
Read more about Bebe Moore Campbell’s life here.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
January 27, 2021
The decision to seek psychiatric help for a child, adolescent or teenager is not an easy one. Often, it is hard for parents or loved ones to identify symptoms of a mental illness or to admit that their child may have a behavioral disorder.
According to the CDC, mental, behavioral and developmental disorders begin in early childhood with 1 in 6 U.S. children aged 2–8 years diagnosed. ADHD, behavior problems, anxiety, and depression are the most diagnosed mental disorders in children. Some of these conditions commonly occur together. For example:
Depression and anxiety have increased over time. Children aged 6–17 years diagnosed with either anxiety or depression increased from 5.4% in 2003 to 8% in 2007 and to 8.4% in 2011–2012.
For families in need of getting a child psychiatric help, having access to specialized treatment programs with skilled and experienced clinicians is essential. That is why Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute is gratified to offer the following group programs to help the youth in our community.
Anger Management
Wednesdays at 5:30–7 p.m. | Ages: 14–18 (High School)
Members of the group will gain a better understanding of core skills such as opposite action, checking the facts and problem solving. They will explore a range of emotions and focus on problem emotions and behaviors associated with them. They will practice brainstorming, choosing a solution and evaluating the decision.
CBT Group
Wednesdays at 3:30–5 p.m. | Ages: 14–18 (High School)
In the Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) group teens will learn how to challenge and restructure their thinking in order to improve how they feel and behave on an everyday basis. Group members will participate in interactive activities and help each other to gain different perspectives, and new ways of thinking about their problems. CBT is geared towards teens with depression, anxiety, OCD, and ADHD.
Emotion Regulation for Social Situations
Mondays at 3:30–5 p.m. | Ages: 14–18 (High School)
Many adolescents face social, emotional and behavioral difficulties that impact their ability to create and maintain friendships with their peers as well as interact prosocially with adults in their lives. In this group, members will learn effective social and relationship skills that will help them navigate the process of peer connection and maintain positive relationships with adults. Group members will gain esteem, understanding of nonverbal communication and language, development of friendships and fostering assertiveness.
Interpersonal Skills Group
Tuesdays at 3:30–5 p.m. | Ages: 14–18 (High School)
Interpersonal skills are the skills we use every day when we communicate and interact with other people, both individually and in groups. They include a wide range of skills, but particularly communication skills such as listening and effective speaking. This can also include the ability to control and manage your emotions. Some examples are active listening skills, teamwork, dependability, leadership, motivation, flexibility with others, patience and empathy. Group members will gain self awareness.
Social Skills: Building strong relationships through effective communication.
Thursdays at 3:30–5 p.m. | Ages: 11-14
In a fast-paced technology savvy world, the art of communicating face-to-face is becoming a serious challenge for the younger population. This group will rely heavily on developing knowledge on the different communication types, styles and potential road blocks someone may encounter. This group will function as fluid as possible with daily tasks and a chance to an open forum in which group members can process and receive feedback from peers.
Call admissions to sign up or learn more at (717) 782-6493.
December 21, 2020
The holidays are typically viewed as the season for joy and happiness, but that is not always the case for everyone. For some, the holidays bring sadness, loneliness, and depression. Though less serious than clinical depression, and not an officially recognized diagnosis, the holiday blues are a real phenomenon that affects people from November through the New Year.
The holidays can exacerbate already anxious and stressful feelings, especially as we are all dealing with a global pandemic. If not addressed, these temporary feelings can develop into mental health disorders later in the year, expanding outside of the holiday season and into a clinical diagnosis.
According to the numbers, 40% of adults suffer from anxiety around the holidays. And although this time of year is known for all the delicious treats and adult-beverage-fueled holiday parties, eating poorly and drinking excessively can worsen issues like stress, anxiety and depression.
What can you do if you or a loved one is feeling down around the holidays?
Pay attention to the things that contribute to the stress and anxiety you feel during this time of year so you can better manage and get ahead of them moving forward to avoid the blues. If the holiday blues start taking a turn into something more serious, or the feelings continue past the holiday season and start to affect your daily routine, you might have a more serious condition and should seek expert help.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
Sources:
https://discoverymood.com/blog/raising-mental-health-awareness-holiday-season/
https://www.verywellmind.com/holiday-blues-4771716#treatment
November 25, 2020
Setting a New Standard for Psychosis Patients, CAPSTONE Helps Psychosis Patients Live a Normal Life
The word “psychosis” is a powerful term that carries a frightening social stigma. But while psychosis is a serious condition, the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute’s CAPSTONE program is redefining its treatment and giving patients hope.
“It’s important for people to know that psychosis can be treated,” said Amanda Fooks, MSW, LCSW, Lead Therapist, CAPSTONE. “With the right treatment and support, individuals can live a normal life even with symptoms.”
CAPSTONE is an outpatient program designed to provide comprehensive treatment and support for young adults ages 16 to 30 experiencing early psychosis. “The program focuses on early psychosis because, like any illness, the earlier you start treating it the better the outcome,” explained Fooks.
Psychosis is a break with reality. It can make it difficult for patients to recognize what is real and what isn’t. These disruptions are often experienced as seeing, hearing and believing things that aren’t real or having unusual and persistent thoughts.
It’s a common misconception that patients experiencing psychosis need to be hospitalized. But a person only needs to go to the hospital if they are unable to keep themselves or other people safe.
“If possible, we want to avoid hospitalization,” said Fooks. “We want to help them live as normal a life as possible. And hospitalization can be a traumatic experience in and of itself.”
Providing Comprehensive Care
What makes the outpatient CAPSTONE program so effective is the comprehensive nature of the services it offers. The program includes two components. The clinical component includes individual therapy, psychiatry, and family education. The support component includes services like helping patients get a job and providing case management which helps them get to appointments and manage their health.
“This comprehensive care is possible through the close collaboration of three organization,” said Fooks. The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute provides the clinical care, the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg provides the employment assistance, and Case Management Unit provides case management support.
“Staff from all three organizations, including psychiatrists, are in constant communication about the patient’s condition,” Fooks said. “We work very closely together to provide complete care.”
Overall, the program aims to reduce symptoms or help patients managed their symptoms by teaching different skills and coping strategies. But the program is successful because it is centered on the participants.
“People set their own goals,” Fooks noted. “If they are not working, they might set the goal to enroll in HACC and complete the entire year. That’s success by their measure.”
For some, the symptoms may never completely go away. But the program recognizes that there is a livable amount of symptoms – which may vary by the person – and that’s the balance the program aims to find for each patient.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
Who CAPSTONE Helps
Due to grant limitations, CAPSTONE is only available to current residents of Dauphin County between the ages of 16 and 30. It is designed for persons experiencing their first episode of psychosis, and requires the individual and their family to participate in services. Even if a person isn’t sure they are experiencing is psychosis, they should contact the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute as soon as possible and we can help, whatever the diagnosis.
“It’s important for people to know that psychosis can be treated. With the right treatment and support, patients can live a normal life even with symptoms.”
—Amanda Fooks, MSW, LCSW, Lead Therapist, CAPSTONE
October 29, 2020
Corporate Compliance & Ethics Week is November 1-7, 2020.
Keeping up its tradition of encouraging employees to follow the highest of standards, Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI) is participating in Corporate Compliance & Ethics Week.
This week began in 2005 as a way to help members of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics & Health Care Compliance Association (SCCE & HCCA) to increase awareness of compliance and ethics issues at their organizations. It has since grown to an annual event celebrated around the world.
Corporate Compliance & Ethics Week is an extension of PPI’s ongoing compliance and ethics program. Company-wide compliance and ethics education, held annually, allows our organization to roll-out new and updated compliance and ethics program policies and reinforce with employees their compliance and ethics obligations. Participation in Corporate Compliance & Ethics Week gives additional opportunity to shine a spotlight on the importance of compliance and ethics and boost compliance culture.
Elements of an Effective Compliance & Ethics Program:
Do you know what should you do in these situations?
Situation 1: You happen to be surfing a social website and you come across a negative comment about your organization that you believe is false. You want to respond and set the record straight. What should you do?
Unless you are authorized to speak on behalf of your organization, you should not respond. However, you should note the item and report it to your organization’s Public Relations Department or Legal. They will decide how best to respond.
Situation 2: A coworker tells you she needs to leave work a few minutes early to catch her son’s high school game. She asks if you could punch out her timecard when you leave at the end of the shift. What should you do?
Be completely honest with her explaining not only are you uncomfortable with her request to falsify her time card and risk both of you getting fired, but if she needs to leave early she should do so with the supervisor’s knowledge and approval. It is never right to lie regardless of the circumstances.
Find out more at: corporatecompliance.org/CCandEweek.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
October 23, 2020
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute’s Patient Financial Services is raising the bar. Through a range of accreditations, their team is keeping abreast of the latest developments in their field while making sure to provide top-notch service to patients.
“To be a successful organization, you need to be around successful people and give them the tools and opportunities to grow,” said Lisa Laudeman, CRCE-I, CRCE-P, Patients Accounts Manager. “These certifications take our team and the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute to the next level. The team comes out of it with a well-rounded idea of the best practices used at the nation’s leading hospitals.”
Patient Financial Services includes customer service, billing, follow up, eligibility, and benefits – anything related to the revenue cycle. The staff needs to know collection law and compliance rules, as well as the technical side of their positions.
Nationally Recognized Accreditation
The team is getting their accreditations from the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM). The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) is the premier professional organization in healthcare administrative management, and the only organization dedicated exclusively to the revenue cycle.
“This rigorous accreditation process enables us to do billing more proficiently – accuracy increases and claims are paid properly. And we’re better able to help patients when they call,” explained Laudeman.
Rigorous Process Prepares Team for Almost Anything
Even after they leave the hospital, patients may get EOBs in the mail that they don’t understand, or they may have questions about their benefits. With this added training, the team is ready to help.
“Sometimes because of the extra level of training, we can resolve problems before the patient sees them – so their experience continues to be positive,” Laudeman noted.
AAHAM offers three levels of certification – executive, professional and technical. Currently the entire team is going through the process – which includes a lot of studying and a passing score on the accreditation test. The department’s goal to have everyone accredited by 2020. The accreditation is for three years, which helps the team stay abreast of the latest developments and services.
“It’s a lot of work to earn the accreditation, but it is important for our patients that we be as knowledgeable and helpful as we can be,” said Laudeman.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
Patient Financial Services Accreditations
• The AAHAM Certified Revenue Cycle Executive – This is for senior leader level positions.
• The AAHAM Certified Revenue Cycle Professional – This is specifically for supervisors and first-time managers to help them understand the processes, but it also has technical component so they need to know what their staff does.
• The AAHAM Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist – This staff level accreditation is much more detail oriented, focused day-to-day process and they must know including federal regulations and fundamental concepts.
The accreditations come with an Institutional tag (for hospital billing and collections) or Professional tag (for everybody else like doctors’ offices, labs, etc.)
“Sometimes because of the extra level of training, we can resolve problems before the patient sees them – so their experience continues to be positive.”
—Lisa Laudeman, CRCE-I, CRCE-P, Patients Accounts Manager
September 25, 2020
Mental Illness affects more people than you think.
Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 4-10, 2020. During this week, Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI) hopes to further educate our community and bring awareness to mental illness.
Did you know?
It may seem taboo, but only by talking about suicide can we bring more awareness to the serious issue affecting tens of thousands of Americans every year.
You are not alone. The staff at PPI is here for you.
Call (717) 782-6493 to speak with someone today.
If you are in emotional distress, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255. Trained counselors are available 24/7.
If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
Sources:
https://save.org/about-suicide/suicide-facts/
https://pdhealth.mil/clinical-guidance/clinical-conditions/suicide-risk
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/all-in-the-family/201401/what-do-when-someone-is-suicidal
September 15, 2020
September is National Recovery Month. Each September, we aim to educate our community about substance use disorders and promote our services to help those with substance use disorders live healthy and rewarding lives.
The hard work that goes into a successful treatment plan often goes unnoticed, and Recovery Month aims to celebrate the achievements made by everyone in recovery by reinforcing the positive actions they have taken to regain their health. Being able to increase awareness about effective treatment and successful recoveries, only benefits the members of our community. We are proud of our staff members who help to facilitate the recovery process, but we are the proudest of our patients who have put in the work and have been successful in their recovery.
Opioid use disorder is everywhere— and central Pa. is no different. Pennsylvania has some of the highest overdose rates in our nation—that’s at least one overdose a day from central Pa. hospitals. In 2018, it is believed that over 120 people died by overdose in Dauphin County alone.
The epidemic is overwhelming, but it is important to remember that people do recover. It is possible to overcome addiction. You are not alone. It’s just a matter of reaching out for help, and then getting connected with effective, evidence based, comprehensive treatment.
PPI is providing that help with their innovative Advancement In Recovery (AIR) Program. Through a combination of Medication-Assisted Treatment—or MAT—and intensive counseling, people with opioid use disorder are getting a second chance to live a fulfilling life.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
“We treat patients with respect and compassion. Substance use disorder is a medical issue—a progressive, chronic disease—and we approach it with a prescribed set of treatments like any other disease.”
September 08, 2020
According to Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention (CDC), every day, approximately 123 Americans commit suicide. That means there is one death by suicide in the US every 12 minutes. (CDC)
However, suicide is preventable. Successful suicide prevention involves understanding suicide risk, protective factors, available resources and procedures for maintaining wellbeing. Although Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute’s (PPI’s) providers are trained to notice the signs of suicidal ideation and behaviors in our patients, educating our community on these signs means we can work together to help more people in need.
Common warning signs that can indicate suicidal behavior:
Those at higher risk for suicide tend to have a history of:
On the contrary, those with the following protective factors tend to be at lower risk:
If you notice any of the above warning signs in someone you know, have a conversation with them and tell them of your concern. Do not be afraid to ask them if they are considering suicide.
If you are in emotional distress, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255. Trained counselors are available 24/7.
If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
Sources:
https://save.org/about-suicide/suicide-facts/
https://pdhealth.mil/clinical-guidance/clinical-conditions/suicide-risk
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/all-in-the-family/201401/what-do-when-someone-is-suicidal
July 10, 2020
Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race. Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness. However, background and identity can make access to mental health treatment much more difficult. National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was established to start changing this.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) partners with the Department of Health and Human services (DHHS) each July to launch outreach programs and distribute educational material designed for minority groups of the population, including Hispanics, Blacks, Asian/Pacific Islanders, as well as Native Americans.
Taking on the challenges and stigma of mental health conditions requires all of us to work together. In many communities, these problems are increased by less access to care, cultural stigma and lower quality care.
Despite advances in health equality, disparities in mental healthcare continue. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports that racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. are less likely to have access to and to use mental health services. Lack of mental healthcare access contributes to poor mental health outcomes, like suicide, among these minority populations.
In reports by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and CDC:
The purpose of the National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is to ensure that information and assistance are available to meet the needs of minority populations. The campaign also aims at creating awareness among afflicted persons and details about where they can find help. By helping to spread helpful information about mental issues facing minority populations, you will go a long way to assist afflicted persons, their friends, family and others living around them.
During July, and every month after, let us join together to help those around us who are affected by mental illness, regardless of their background.
If you would like to speak to someone about better managing your stress and anxiety, or to make an appointment, please call (717) 782-6493 for more information.
Sources:
https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/content
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Minority-Mental-Health-Awareness-Month
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