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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.

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“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.”

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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:

• • Talking about wanting to die
• • Threatening to hurt or kill oneself
• • Planning or preparing for a suicide attempt (e.g., buying a gun)
• • Making financial and other arrangements for dependents
• • Social withdrawal
• • Substance abuse

Those at higher risk for suicide tend to have a history of:

• • Non-suicidal self-injury
• • Psychiatric diagnoses, or onset of psychiatric symptoms
• • Traumatic brain injuries
• • Traumatic childhood experiences
• • Military service (i.e., service members and veterans)
• • Previous suicide attempt(s)
• • LGTBQ+
• • Loss of employment, housing, or a relationship
• • Suicide death of a relative or peer

On the contrary, those with the following protective factors tend to be at lower risk:

• • Employment
• • Responsibilities to others
• • Strong interpersonal bonds
• • Resilience
• • Sense of belonging and identity
• • Access to health care
• • Optimistic outlook

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.

• • Let them know you care, and that they are not alone, and that they can get help. Do not try arguing with them, and do not say things like ”You have so much to live for” or ”If you kill yourself, it will hurt your family.”
• • Ask them if they are seeing a doctor or are taking medication. If so, encourage them to contact their provider immediately. You can also offer to help them find a mental health professional and/or take them to a walk-in psychiatric clinic or hospital emergency room.
• • Call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
• • Do not leave them alone.

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.

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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

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:

1. In 2017, 10.5% (3.5 million) of young adults age 18 to 25 had serious thoughts of suicide including 8.3% of non-Hispanic blacks and 9.2% of Hispanics.
2. In 2017, 7.5% (2.5 million) of young adults age 18 to 25 had a serious mental illness including 7.6% of non-Hispanic Asians, 5.7% of Hispanics and 4.6% of non-Hispanic blacks.
3. Feelings of anxiety and other signs of stress may become more pronounced during a global pandemic.
4. People in some racial and ethnic minority groups may respond more strongly to the stress of a pandemic or crisis.

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.

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Sources:

https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/content

https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/health-awareness/national-minority-mental-health-awareness-month

https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Minority-Mental-Health-Awareness-Month

Responding to patient complaints and grievances is the job of our Patient Advocate. It’s not easy, but the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute is dedicated to listening to patients and doing what they can to resolve an issue.

If you have an issue, your Patient Advocate is going to try to help you to the best of their ability. Sometimes they can’t make a change, but will do their best to make you happy. Our Patient Advocate enjoys working with people to figure out ways to make their situation a little better.

The Patient Advocate is usually involved in what’s called a grievance. This is a formal process in which they typically researches patient complaints. These can range from disagreements about a discharge plan, lost items, food options, or a staff member.

Often, our Patient Advocate finds in each problem an opportunity to assist the patient. They have helped patients find new doctors, and helped a patient get a discharge plan changed. They have even worked with the billing department to help a patient pay their bill so they could continue their care.

Working with Patients and Staff

The Patient Advocate is also involved in helping identify problems and solutions before patients experience them.

As the Patient Advocate, they are a member of the hospital’s Patient Experience Committee. The committee brings together staff from across the organization to share what they do and find ways to work together to improve the patient experience.

Our Patient Advocate has also started going into each unit once a month to talk to the patients. This way they can give patients an overview of what they do, what the complaint process is, and get ideas from them. What could we do better? What kinds of things could we improve?

Helping Patients Learn to Help Themselves

The Patient Advocate also sees their role as helping patients learn to advocate for themselves.

Patients don’t always know how to speak up for themselves. Our Patient Advocate tries to help them find their own voice. For the smaller things, they are encouraged to talk to the staff first and try to resolve their problems. But if they need help, their Patient Advocate always there.

Whatever the patient issue or concern, the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute is committed to investigating it in a fair and appropriate manner. Patients and their family members are encouraged to voice their questions and concerns.

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.

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“If you have an issue, your Patient Advocate is going to try to help you to the best of their ability. Sometimes they can’t make a change, but will do their best to make you happy. Our Patient Advocate enjoys working with people to figure out ways to make their situation a little better.”

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A traumatic event can affect a person and their behavior for years.  Whether it’s an act of violence, an automobile accident, sexual abuse, or witnessing a traumatic event, the repercussions continue to be felt later in life and affect their perspective.

Through the use of Trauma-Informed Care, Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute is engaging people with histories of trauma, recognizing the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledging the role that trauma has played in their lives.

Statistics show that most people receiving mental health services have experienced a traumatic event in the past.

“Our mission as a Trauma-Informed Care organization is look at the whole patient and respond to the impact of trauma in their lives, as well as the lives of their families and even our staff,” explained Stephanie Kegel, MBA, LCSW, CAADC, CCDPD, CCS, Adult Service Line Director. “It is a treatment framework running through all the services we provide that involves understanding the effects of trauma in a patient’s life and how that may relate to the patient’s current behavior.”

Understanding how past traumatic events impact a patient’s behavior today gives both providers and the patient a greater sense of control and empowerment.

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.

“Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute started focusing on Trauma-Informed Care about three years ago, and the program has continued to grow,” noted Kegel.

Trauma-Informed Care training is now part of the orientation program for all staff. A Trauma-Informed Care Champion has been made a formal position to lead the change, and provided with training and budgeting to continue its growth. They’ve also developed support for departments to help units develop the program according to their unique circumstances and responsibilities.

“It is a new mindset and a culture shift,” Kegel added. “It’s not what’s wrong with you but what happened. We are not judgmental – we see patients as individuals with unique backgrounds and that helps them better recover.”

“Trauma-Informed Care is a treatment framework running through all the services we provide that involves understanding the effects of trauma in a patient’s life and how that may relate to the patient’s current behavior.”
— Stephanie Kegel, MBA, LCSW, CAADC, CCDPD, CCS, Adult Service Line Director

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Responding to patient complaints and grievances is the job of the Patient Advocate,
Amy Matthews. It’s not easy, but the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute is dedicated to listening to patients and doing what they can to resolve an issue.

“If you have an issue, I’m going to try to help you to the best of my ability,” Matthews tells patients. “Sometimes I can’t make a change. But I will do my best to make you happy.
I like to work with people and try to figure out ways to make their situation a little better.”

The Patient Advocate is usually involved in what’s called a grievance. This is a formal process in which she typically researches patient complaints.
These can range from disagreements about a discharge plan, lost items, food options, or a staff member.

Often, Matthews finds in each problem an opportunity to assist the patient. She’s helped patients find new doctors, and helped a patient get a discharge plan changed.
She’s even worked with the billing department to help a patient pay their bill so they could continue their care.

Working with Patients and Staff

Matthews is also involved in helping identify problems and solutions before patients experience them.

As the Patient Advocate, Matthews is a member of the hospital’s Patient Experience Committee. The committee brings together staff from across the organization share what
they do and find ways to work together to improve the patient experience.

Matthews has also started going into each unit once a month to talk to the patients. “I give them an overview of what I do, what the complaint process is,
and then get ideas from them. What could we do better? What kinds of things could we improve?”

Helping Patients Learn to Help Themselves

Matthews also sees her role as helping patients learn to advocate for themselves.

“Patients don’t always know how to speak up for themselves,” Matthews noted. “I try to help them find their own voice. For the smaller things,
I encourage them to talk to the staff first and try to resolve their problems. But if they need help, I’m always there.”

Whatever the patient issue or concern, the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute is committed to investigating it in a fair and appropriate manner.
Patients and their family members are encouraged to voice their questions and concerns.

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“If you have an issue, I’m going to try to help you to the best of my ability. Sometimes I can’t make a change. But I will do my best to make you happy.
I like to work with people and try to figure out ways to make their situation a little better.”
— Amy Matthews, Patient Advocate

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For patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), each day is a struggle to regulate their emotions and manage relationships at home, at school and at work. But through an innovative but intensive program at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute called Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), these patients learn life skills to help them manage their emotions and succeed.

“Dialectical Behavioral Therapy works – I’ve seen the difference it makes. But you have to work hard. It is a very structured form of treatment,” said Sherrie-An Gerhart, Program Coordinator.

The program is designed for individuals who need more support than outpatient therapy alone. This highly structured approach is unlike any other program with both classroom training and the individual therapy.

Learning Life Skills

The therapy is a rigorous 13-week program that includes nine hours of classroom training, and homework every night. Through this training, patients learn a wide range of life skills including:

1. Mindfulness as well as the ability to stay in the present and be non-judgmental.
2. The ability to handle stress and distress, and bring down the intensity of high emotion.
3. The ability to regulate emotions, and understand their purpose and function.
4. Interpersonal skills, including communicating, understanding limits and trusting themselves.

Skills classes are co-facilitated by therapists with specialized DBT training and include up to 12 men and women.

The program also includes individual therapy as well as a unique feature: coach calling. If a patient is in a stressful situation and finds their emotions spiraling out of control, they may forget the skills they learned. In that event, they can call a therapist any time to get coaching on the techniques they should use in that particular situation.

What Makes Your Life Worth Living?

“We ask patients, ‘What makes your life worth living’ and that becomes their goal – whether it is a relationship, a job, an education, or whatever, and we work toward that goal,” said Gerhart. “Their behaviors are interfering with their quality of life, but we’re helping them learn the skills that allow them to reach their goals. I’ve seen it work.”

The program also includes psychiatric evaluation, medication management, family sessions, and a DBT Graduate Group for individuals who have successfully completed the program either at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute or in the community.

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 Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Helps
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is for individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) or individuals who have strong traits of this diagnosis. It has also been used to treat individuals with drug and alcohol addictions, eating disorders and for pain management. Patients must be at least 18 years old and not currently attending high school. Individuals may attend college or work while attending the program; however, full-time employment and a full college course is not recommended, while attending the program due to the program’s intensity.

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“We ask patients, ‘What makes your life worth living’ and that becomes their goal – whether it is a relationship, a job, an education, or whatever, and we work toward that goal.”
— Sherrie-An Gerhart, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Program Coordinator

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Our providers at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute continue to develop new programs and grow existing services in order to meet the changing needs of our clients and our community. This includes the ongoing development of our staff to ensure that they have the training and the tools they need to provide quality, effective care.
Everyone has a story to tell. And through special programs at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI), inpatients are getting to tell stories about the outstanding care they receive from the nursing and non-nursing staff.

Over the past several years, PPI has rolled out two programs that collect patient stories about the wonderful care they receive.

The DAISY Program is a national award for nurses started by the family of Patrick Barnes who died of a rare disease but received outstanding care from his nurses. The BEE Program is for non-nursing staff such as technicians, social workers, care coordinators, therapist and even physicians.

“We know our staff does a tremendous job, but we don’t know everything that they do that they do for patients,” said Theresa Terry-Williams, Chief Nursing Officer. “It’s nice to have the patients tell their stories and how our staff impacted their lives.”

The DAISY and BEE Awards

The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute started participating in the national DAISY Program in 2016 to recognize its nurses. “We know that our nurses are doing wonderful things each day and this gives patients the opportunity to tell their stories – how much a nurse has impacted their life while hospitalized at PPI,” explained Terry-Williams.

That program was such a success, PPI also wanted to recognize non-nursing staff and created the BEE Award – Be Extraordinary Every day. “We call it the BEE Award because just like a daisy can’t survive without bee pollination, nurses can’t survive without their support team,” Terry-Williams said.

Gathering Patient Stories

The nominations come from patients, family and even other staff.

“The reaction has been very positive – we receive 100 nominations some quarters. It means a lot when the patients take the time to submit a nomination,” said Terry-Williams. “You know they must be very appreciative to take the time to tell their story.”

Each quarter, the nominations have identifying information removed and are graded based on several criteria, including compassion, trustworthiness, collaboration/teamwork, honesty and love. The nomination earning the most points wins the award.

The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute then holds a celebration for the entire staff. There, all the nominations are read aloud, saving the winning nominations until the last. Sometimes the patient or person who wrote the winning nomination reads it out loud.

“People are usually in tears – our patients can be very passionate when they tell their story,” Terry-Williams noted.

The winners get a statue, a pin and a certificate. Their picture is also posted in the hospital with the nominating story.

“Our staff works very hard every day, and we want people to know that we respect what they do and we want to recognize the hard work and say ”˜Thank you for what you are doing here and the way you support our patients through this crisis period in their life,'” noted Terry-Williams. “This is not something everyone can do. It takes a special kind of person.”

“He listened without judgment as I recounted ”¦ my personal story and responded with unflinchingly real feedback, compassion and encouragement”¦. I will always be grateful for the help he gave me.”

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“When she walks onto the unit, into the nursing station or in a client’s room, it feels like a candled has entered the darkness.”

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“Jeff was exemplary in his ability to see beyond what the client presented to truly meet the client’s needs.”