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Northwest Washington's Behavioral Healthcare Leader |
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Broadway Campus Redevelopment Update |
Things continue to progress with our Broadway Campus Redevelopment project, with phase one slated to open in spring 2021. The first phase of the project includes 82 units of permanent supportive housing for people with chronic behavioral health challenges and space for on-site programs including peer support, homeless outreach, and housing stabilization.
Funding for the project has been secured through various donors, including most recently a $1 million gift from the Sunderland Foundation.
“We are profoundly grateful to the Sunderland Foundation for their remarkable commitment to this project and our efforts to bring our exciting vision to reality. It’s amazing to see a project of this scale and impact garner such ardent support from charitable foundations and the larger philanthropic community,” said Tom Sebastian, Compass Health CEO and president.
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COVID-19: How we're planning for 2021 |
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Over the past few days, we've seen the FDA approve the first of several vaccines developed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, marking what we hope is the beginning of the final chapter of the pandemic and its medical, social, and economic challenges.
Like many of you, we are still awaiting details about the vaccine rollout in 2021. We do know that though this is an ambitious initiative, we will continue to keep the safety and health of our staff and clients front and center through several key initiatives:
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- Our internal Return to Work Task Force will continue to meet regularly and share recommendations to staff based on findings and data from the CDC and the Washington State Department of Health to make sure that our sites and facilities continue to be safe places to work.
- We are in the process of developing a vaccine resource webpage on CompassHealth.org to make vetted materials available publicly, similar to our COVID resources page.
- Finally, we will remain in close contact with health officials from across our five counties and our medical and pharmaceutical partners across the region. Through this collaboration, we will support their efforts and share what we learn with you, including updates on when and how our sites and services might be adjusted to adhere to safety guidelines.
We look forward to continuing to provide updates and advocate for the health and wellness of our staff and the communities we serve.
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Media Roundup: Compass Health in the News |
As we’ve all navigated election stress, holiday planning and those pre-winter blues, Compass Health shared our insights on trends we’re seeing and strategies for mental wellness. Read on for some of our latest media coverage: |
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Herald Business Journal
The doctor will see you now – on your computer or smartphone. A year ago, Compass Health launched a telehealth service. Six months in, the virtual platform was logging a respectable 500 appointments a month… By late spring, the number of virtual healthcare appointments had shot up more than tenfold – to 6,000 appointments a month. Read more.
KOMO News
‘It’s all very stressful:’ Elections causing higher rates of anxiety, depression. President and CEO of Compass Health Tom Sebastian said he’s seen a rise in anxiety and depression related to politics throughout this election cycle. This week, he said people are worried about the unrest in response to who wins the presidency and the broad impacts of the election results. "Many of our clients depend on the coverage than comes from the Affordable Care Act and there’s fear about how the actual election outcome might impact their ability to receive the care," said Sebastian. Read and watch more.
Skagit Valley Herald
Pandemic has pushed demand for behavioral health services. Brandon Foister and Amy Pereira, who work in crisis care with behavioral health services provider Compass Health, said they’ve also seen an uptick in calls from those who have never sought help before... Compass’ crisis responses are up about 13% during the pandemic, compared to the same period last year, he said. Many Compass patients are experiencing difficulty accessing care, because of issues related to the pandemic. A lack of child care, housing instability, or the loss of insurance due to a layoff are all playing factors, Foister said. Read more.
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King5 News
Monday Morning Mug with Jake Whittenberg. Thank you to King5 morning news anchor, Jake Whittenberg, for giving Compass Health a shout out!
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Beat Stress & Anxiety with our Holiday Mental Health Tips |
During the holidays, especially this year more than others, it’s common to experience increased stress or mental health challenges. As we abide by COVID-19 precautions, it can be easy to feel an increased sense of loneliness or depression. Here are our tips for managing your well-being this winter:
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Keep communication open with friends and family. While you might not be able to have a big gathering this year, you can pick up the phone or video chat with friends and family. Keeping regular communications can help re-establish some normalcy.
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Don’t rely on drugs and alcohol. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America recommends avoiding drugs and alcohol for comfort. While the prospect of escape can be appealing, substance use can ultimately worsen your issues. When you feel you need a relaxation aid, you can instead turn to a mindfulness tactic or other healthy coping mechanism.
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Set realistic expectations. Another major source of anxiety, stress and depression around the holidays can be examining accomplishments from the past year. Some may experience negative feelings over not being at a place they feel they “should be” in life. Get yourself out of this space by adjusting expectations and setting realistic goals.
In the new year, we also encourage you to access our important suicide prevention and mental health resources here. Whether you’re looking for support, or are interested in helping friends and neighbors obtain the care they need, our community-wide tools can help point you in the right direction. |
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