June 2023 Issue
Volume XLV
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Join us to improve mental health in our community
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A Note from our President & CEO
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Mobile crisis services have been a reality in New Hampshire for a year and a half. The impact on the community has been profound giving people 24/7 phone support and, when needed, mobile crisis staff come to the person in crisis.
In its first 15 months of operation, there were 38,605 phone contacts statewide. Of those, 23% resulted in a mobile crisis outreach. Not surprisingly, 40% of calls related to children/adolescents resulted in an outreach, whereas only 20% of adult calls necessitated a mobile outreach. The impact has been significant in West Central’s service area.
The agency’s mobile outreaches have resulted in far fewer Emergency Department (ED) visits and a respectable psychiatric hospitalization diversion rate. We have an ED diversion rate of 91% and inpatient diversion rate of 96% which means that people are only using these higher levels of care when absolutely clinically necessary. We are still hoping that more people will use the state’s rapid response system as their first line of defense rather than showing up as hospital emergency departments when experiencing a crisis.
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June 6-7th!
Be a part of the solution.
Help us meet our goal of exceeding $5,000 in donations.
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A Culture of Connection
by Diane Roston, M.D.
“I have people around, but I feel so lonely,” a client told me. This client is not alone. Loneliness is an epidemic that affects more than half of US adults, according to US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s advisory report,
“Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” released May 2, 2023. When you’re lonely and feel disconnected, there’s more stress, which leads to more anxiety and inflammation. Not surprisingly, loneliness increases a person’s risk of heart disease (by 29%), stroke (by 32%), dementia in older adults (by 50%), and premature death (by 60%).
West Central staff know that as health care races toward improving algorithms, metrics, and data models, we must also remember that human beings are not machines. Humans need kindness and to feel connected.
For example, our recently initiated Zero Suicide program has demonstrated that a daily phone call after a person is discharged from a psychiatric hospital dramatically reduces the chance the person will attempt suicide during this high risk time. Similarly, involving family and close friends in care reduces loneliness and is a powerful protection against suicide.
What can we all do to cultivate a culture of connection, one of the six foundational pillars that Dr. Murthy recommends? Cultivate values of kindness, respect, service, and commitment to one another, Dr. Murthy says. Leaders, especially, can model these connection values. And we can all work together to build connection with each other.
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West Central & Kilton Library are
hosting a free viewing of
Anxious Nation
on June 22nd
from 6-8pm
A feature documentary exploring anxiety and our kids.
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Congratulations to our new Director of Mobile Crisis Services Robert "Bob" Hutchinson! Bob grew up in both Southern New Hampshire and Houston, Texas. He has his Bachelors in Psychology and Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Southern New Hampshire University. Since starting work in the field of mental health, Bob has been a part of several community mental health services including individuals with co-occurring disorders, child/adolescent residential, in-patient adult and child psychiatric, home-based therapy for children and families, and substance counseling with adults and emergency services/mobile crisis. Bob is happy to share, "I love what I do and I am grateful to be doing it with West Central."
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A "crisis" doesn't have to rise to the level of a life-threatening event to call or text the NH Rapid Response helpline at 833-710-6477, or to chat online with a crisis clinician at NH988.com.
When needed, the NH Rapid Response call center will alert our mobile crisis response clinicians.
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Watch We Give Together a Short Video About Mobile Crisis Services |
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Mental Health Inspirations! |
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Eric Snogren at his retirement gathering
after 10 years of service with West Central.
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Thank you Ledyard National Bank for your continued support of West Central in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month!
Pictured: Dana Michalovic and Roger Osmun, Ph.D. from West Central, with Marina Burns from Ledyard National Bank.
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Thank you to our Exhibiting Artists, Guests, and Sponsors at our Event with AVA Gallery and Art Center! |
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This annual event to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month was generously sponsored by:
The Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation
Mt. Roeschmore Foundation
Doug and Leslie Williamson
Los Lorcas
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We need your voice!
Do you have lived experience?
Are you a family member of a person experiencing behavioral health issues?
Are you a community stakeholder interested in getting involved?
We are looking to increase the involvement of individuals with lived experience, mental health/substance use issues, their family members and community stakeholders and partners to support our organization’s leadership and to ensure our services are culturally competent, accessible to all, and of the highest quality. The WCBH Advisory Group gives participants the opportunity to have a voice in order to better impact the way we meet their needs and the needs of the community.
If you would like more information, or if you are interested in joining the WCBH Advisory Group, please contact info@wcbh.org.
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Join our Team!
Would you like to help others? There's no more gratifying work than in community behavioral health. Search our careers page and learn about our available positions.
We provide a generous benefits package including our own, newly-launched Student Loan Assistance Program (SLAP). Eligible employees can receive up to $10,000 over 3 years in loan assistance! West Central is also an approved STAR LRP facility for federal student loan repayment assistance up to
$250,000. These two programs are separate from one another.
We proudly offer both programs to qualified staff members.
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Do you like what we're doing in our community? We're a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) charitable organization serving clients in the Upper Valley and Sullivan County, NH with clinics in Lebanon, Claremont, and Newport. Each year, on average, we offer $600,000 in unreimbursed charitable services to clients who can't otherwise afford care. No gift is too small. Visit our Giving page to learn more about gifts of stock or securities, real estate or other property, or to designate West Central as a beneficiary in your will or estate plans.
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West Central Behavioral Health’s mission is to promote the health and quality of life of individuals, families and communities by providing treatment for mental illness and substance use disorders, while helping to reduce the stigma associated with these challenging conditions. |
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