(Ithaca, N.Y., July 30, 2024) – July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to highlight the need for inclusive and culturally responsive mental health services, while addressing gaps in minorities receiving those services. Bebe Moore Campbell was a renowned author and mental health advocate, who was instrumental in raising awareness about mental health issues in minority communities. The National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is named after Bebe to honor her legacy and contributions to the field.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Racial and ethnic minorities experience numerous mental health disparities, including higher rates of attempted suicide in adolescents and lower treatment rates for mental disorders like depression in adults.
Intersecting social determinants of health (SDOH) factors can have a profound impact on the mental health of racial and ethnic minorities. Living through a natural disaster; experiencing financial hardship; limited access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services; and stigma surrounding mental health care are all examples of SDOH factors that can lead to poor mental health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities.
At Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH), mental health services are available remotely or in-person at our office located at 201 E. Green Street (Ithaca). Our licensed clinical therapists provide individual and group counseling services for adults, children and youth, as well as family counseling. Our school-based services help to provide accessible services to children and youth during the school day. TCWH has nurses and psychiatrists who provide medication-assisted therapy services as well as an on-site pharmacy operated by Genoa Healthcare.
Other programs within TCWH’s Mental Health Services include support for those involved in the justice system. The C.A.R.E. Team (Crisis Alternative Response and Engagement) provides comprehensive mental health services to persons in mental, behavioral, or emotional crisis, diverting community members from the criminal justice system when mental/behavioral health issues are the driving force of their actions. Over 200 calls have been responded to since the C.A.R.E. Team launched in August 2023.
TCWH’s Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) provides group-based services for adults age 18+ with severe and persistent mental illness. The main goal of the program is to help people work on all aspects of their life — social, work, education, housing, finding purpose — when mental health or substance use creates barriers. Often the outcome of participating in PROS includes an improvement in overall quality of life, a decrease in hospitalizations, and movement towards goals.
Additionally, TCWH’s Community Health Worker (CHW) program can support individuals in connecting to services, including mental health needs, to improve their health and wellbeing. To find out more about the CHW Program, go to our website or call 607-274-6604.
TCWH Commissioner Frank Kruppa states, “At TCWH, it is our mission to build a healthy, equitable community in Tompkins County by addressing the root causes of health disparities and integrating mental, physical and environmental health. We recognize that systemic stigma, misrepresentation, and lack of culturally responsive healthcare prevent minorities from seeking care. Our clinicians and other staff complete on-going professional development opportunities to support their knowledge and skills in trauma-informed care, cultural humility, bias awareness and other diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) trainings. We encourage all those who need help to seek it – we look forward to supporting you along your journey to achieve wellness.”
Are you experiencing problems with mental health and want to get help now? Come during Open Access hours to begin treatment as soon as you walk into our building at 201 E. Green Street (Ithaca). TCWH currently offers walk-in, Open Access Hours on Mondays-Thursdays from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, to see a clinician and begin the intake process, no appointment needed.
EMERGENCY AND CRISIS CONTACTS FOR 24-HOUR HELP if you or someone you know needs to speak with a mental health professional:
- En cas d'urgence vitale, composez le 911.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, DIAL 988 (1-800-273-8255)
- Veterans: dial 988 and Press 1 or text 838255.
Visit www.veteranscrisisline.net for online chat and more.
- Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741-741.
- Ligne d'assistance téléphonique d'Ithaca pour la prévention du suicide et en cas de crise, 1-607-272-1616.
Learn more about Tompkins County Whole Health’s Mental Health Services online at: www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health/mh.
Tompkins County Whole Health envisions a future where every person in Tompkins County can achieve wellness. Find us online at TompkinsCountyNY.gov/health, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/TompkinsWholeHealth and on Twitter at @TCWholeHealth. Get Whole Health updates or other county announcements via email or text, sign up here.
Media contact: Shannon Alvord, salvord@tompkins-co.org
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