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>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON AT ISSUE.

I'M H. WAYNE WILSON.

AND FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF OR SO, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A PANDEMIC IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

YES, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CORONAVIRUS.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PANDEMIC WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO, A VERY SERIOUS PANDEMIC, AND IT'S OVER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR THE NEXT HALF-HOUR HERE ON AT ISSUE.

WE HAVE A PANEL OF PROVIDERS.

WE'LL BE TALKING TO THEM WITH DR. NATHAN FREDRICK.

DR. FREDRICK IS THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT UNITY POINT HEALTH METHODIST.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

MEGHAN MOSER IS A CHRIST PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE McCLAIN -- CRISIS PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE McCLAIN COUNTY SERVICES.

JOAN HARTMAN IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY AND PUBLIC POLICY FOR CHESTNUT HEALTH SYSTEMS.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND ALSO WITH US CHRISTINA GERLACH, THE MANAGER OF CRISIS SERVICES AT UNITY PLACE.

AND LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL TALKING ABOUT -- TALK ABOUT ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY, BUT I WANT TO START WITH TWO NAMES.

NAOMI OSAKA AND SIMONE BILES.

TWO HIRE PROFILE INDIVIDUALS -- HIGH-PROFILE INDIVIDUALS, JUST SUPERIOR IN THEIR PARTICULAR SPORT FIELD.

NO ONE EVER THOUGHT THAT THOSE TWO LADIES WOULD HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

AND YET THEY ANNOUNCED IT TO THE WORLD.

SO WAS THAT A GOOD THING OVERALL?

HOW DID THAT BENEFIT US FROM A MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PERSPECTIVE?

>> I THINK IT WAS A VERY GOOD THING FON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE -- FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND PEOPLE MY AGE, EVERYONE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE TO SEE PEOPLE COMING OUT AND TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT WE ALL EXPERIENCE.

AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOMEBODY WHO IS A HERO IN MANY PEOPLE'S EYES, BEING ABLE TO TALK OPENLY ABOUT THE STRUGGLE THAT IS THEY HAVE, IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE REST OF US TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, TOO.

>> AND DR. FREDRICK, YOU ARE IN TOTAL AGREEMENT, IT APPEARS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK ONE OF THE LARGEST -- ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE WITH ALL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS THE STIGMA INVOLVED WITH SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM.

AND ANYTIME WE TALK ABOUT IT OPENLY, ANYTIME LIKE WITH THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY HAD OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM THEIR PEERS AND THEIR FAMILY, AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS A WHOLE, I THINK IT TAKES THAT STIGMA'S POWER AWAY FROM THE SITUATION.

AND IT HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ABNORMAL.

IT IS VERY COMMON.

AND TO SEE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAD IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO WANT TO HAVE HELP, TO SEEK HELP FOR THESE PROBLEMS.

>> AS TIME HAS PROGRESSED, THERE'S LESS AND LESS STIGMA -- STILL SOME BUT LESS AND LESS ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

SO THE NUMBERS ARE INCREASING IN TERMS OF REPORTED NUMBERS OF CASES.

LET ME SHARE JUST A COUPLE WITH YOU.

NEARLY 10% OF YOUTH REPORT SEVERE MENTAL DEPRESSION.

THAT'S THE YOUTH IN GENERAL.

>> UH-HUH.

>> THE YOUTH THAT ARE IN JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS, TWO-THIRDS OF THEM HAVE SOME SORT OF ISSUE RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH.

THOSE ARE STAGGERING NUMBERS TO ME.

SO THE QUESTION TO YOU IS IF WE'RE STARTING TO MAKE IT MORE ACCEPTABLE TO SAY, I DO HAVE AN ISSUE, ARE WE KEEPING ONE THE ABILITY TO SERVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS?

>> I THINK WE'RE TRYING.

I THINK ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE ONES AT THIS TABLE WERE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT SERVICES, PROGRAMS, TO MEET PEOPLE AT THEIR LEVEL OF NEED, WHETHER IT'S THE INITIAL ONSET OF SYMPTOMS, YOU KNOW, OR IT'S SCHOOL EDUCATION, PEER EDUCATION, PARENTGESTION, WITH TEENS AND ADOLESCENTS.

AND EVEN YOUNGER, REACHING OUT CRISIS SERVICES, IS IT JUST A COUNSELING SERVICE, AND SO I THINK WE'RE TRYING.

COVID HAS DEFINITELY PUT PROBABLE A WRENCH IN THAT PROBABLY -- PROBABLY A WRENCH IN THAT, PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO SAY IT, BECAUSE IT DID CREATE THIS OTHER ARENA OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR US.

BUT I FEEL LIKE THE ORGANIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN OUR COMMUNITY, ARE TRYING AS MUCH AS THEY CAN TO KEEP UP.

>> YOU MENTIONED COVID.

LET ME TURN TO DR. FREDRICK FOR JUST A SECOND AND IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, HAVE YOU, DURING THIS PAST YEAR AND A HALF, SEEN AN INCREASE IN INDIVIDUALS PRESENTING THEMSELVES WITH SOME SORT OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THE OFFICIAL FIGURE SINCE THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR, JUST THIS YEAR, NOT COUNTING LAST YEAR, WAS -- WE'VE SEEN MORE THAN 60% INCREASE IN PEOPLE SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT ALL LEVELS, FROM ADOLESCENTS TO ADULTS.

FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER -- THAT ARE NEW TO OUR SYSTEM THAT NEVER EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE THAT THEY'VE SOUGHT HELP FOR.

ACROSS THE BOARD, WE'VE HAD INCREASES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> IS THAT THE CASE FOR EVERYBODY, THEN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRESSURE.

WHEN WE HAVE THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES, HOW ABOUT THE FUNDING ISSUE?

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING THROUGHOUT THIS HALF-HOUR, I'M SURE.

I ASSUME WE ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE FUNDING ASPECT OF THIS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ENOUGH SERVICE PROVIDERS AND PAY THEM APPROPRIATELY, ET CETERA.

>> I THINK THERE IS SOMEWHAT AN ISSUE OF BEING ABLE TO SEND PEOPLE TO SOME OF THE RIGHT PLACES, BEING ABLE TO HAVE CERTAINGESTION.

-- CERTAIN EDUCATION.

I KNOW IN OUR AREA, A LOT OF TIMES THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO FIRST START WITH.

AND SO THEN ONCE THEY TRY TO PIECE THROUGH WHERE TO GO, YOU KNOW, IT'S TRYING TO GET INTO SERVICES.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, IT'S SERVICES AVAILABLE.

HOW QUICKLY CAN YOU GET IN.

NOW YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE STRUGGLING, BUT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET IN NEXT WEEK.

YOU MAY BE LOOKING AT MONTHS, WHICH CAN BE DISHEARTENING FOR PEOPLE.

SO THERE ARE FUNDING ISSUES AND THINGS.

BUT NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE REACHING OWMGHT, MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO EMERGENCY ROOMS AND THINGS WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN GETTING GIVEN TO THE SERVICES.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING IN RIGHT AWAY WHICH CAUSES STRESS, TOO.

>> SO JOAN, THE ISSUE OF COLLABORATION.

IF WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO TEACHERS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, WHO KNOWS WHAT, HOW ARE WE DOING IN BREAKING OUT OF OUR SILOS?

>> I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE'VE BEEN WORKING 0 -- TOWARDS BEING ABLE TO COLLABORATE.

WE KNOW THAT SERVICES ARE OUT THERE.

I'LL OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS PROVIDERS TO KNOW WHAT OUR LIMITATIONS ARE AND TO KNOW WHERE WE CAN SEND PEOPLE.

WHEN WE DON'T OFFER THAT SERVICE.

AND I THINK THAT WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF WORKING TOGETHER, OF BEING VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT WHAT EACH OTHER DO.

AND PROVIDING THOSE WARM HANDOFFS AS PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, WHERE IT'S NOT JUST HEY, HERE'S A NUMBER FOR MEGHAN.

GO SEE HER.

IT'S ME CALLING UP MEGHAN AND SAYING, I HAVE JOE IN MY OFFICE.

AND THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HIM.

AND WHEN -- YOU KNOW, WHEN CAN HE GET INTO YOUR PROGRAM OR CAN WE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

>> LET ME EXTEND THAT TO ANOTHER LEVEL, AND THAT IS EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT WHERE TO TURN.

AND TEACHERS WOULD BE THE -- THAT'S WHERE THE CONFIDENCE IS.

I CAN TALK TO MY TEACHER.

SO ARE WE REACHING OUT ESPECIALLY TO THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING TEACHERS AND TRYING TO DEVELOP THAT RELATIONSHIP SO THAT THEY RECOGNIZE, I HAVE A CLASS -- A CLASS MEMBER WHO IS EXHIBITING ISSUES AND THEY CALL YOU UP?

>> UH-HUH.

I DEFINITELY THINK IN OUR COMMUNITIES WE ARE.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EDUCATION BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THROUGH IN-SERVICE OR EMAILS, TO JUST SAY, HEY, THIS IS -- THIS IS THE EDUCATION I WANT --S WHAT'S GOING ON.

THESE ARE THE RESOURCES WE HAVE, TO AT LEAST CONNECT THEM TO SOMEBODY THAT CAN GET THEM TO THE RIGHT SPOT, EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, YOU KNOW, IMMEDIATELY.

>> AND TEACHERS ARE REALLY WANTING THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.

THEY'RE SEEING IT.

THEY'RE SEEING STUDENTS THAT ARE SHOWING MORE AND MORE SYMPTOMS AND SO THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO GO.

AND SO I KNOW LIKE EVEN IN OUR AREA, WE DO MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND DIFFERENT THINGS TO EDUCATE THEM HERE'S WHERE YOU LOOK FOR WHEN THINGS ARE GOING FROM NORMAL TO MAYBE THIS IS STARTING AN ISSUE.

WE WANT TO CATCH IT AT THAT ABLE.

THE EARLIER WE'RE ABLE TO SEE INSTRUMENTALS AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SKILLS IN ORDER TO HELP WITH THEM, THE -- HOPEFULLY THE LATER ON YOU MAYBE WON'T DEVELOP EVEN MORE SEVERE SYMPTOMS.

SO I THINK THAT THE TEACHERS AND PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR THIS INFORMATION AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO POINT THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> LAST WEEK I HAD THE NEW POLICE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF PEORIA ON THIS PROGRAM AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER TO ACT MORE AS A TRIAGE CENTER, SO THAT THEY COULD IDENTIFY -- SOMETIMES IT'S A REPETITIVE PHONE CALL.

WE'VE HAD THIS CALL BEFORE WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL OR WE RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE.

WE'RE GOING TO SEND AN OFFICER AND A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

>> UH-HUH.

>> UH-HUH.

>> ARE WE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THAT AND LET ME EXPAND THAT TO INCLUDE TELEMEDICINE IN THAT?

BECAUSE IN COOK COUNTY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THOSE DEPUTIES ARE TAKING TABLETS OUT SO IF THE PROFESSIONAL CAN'T GET THERE, WE CAN REACH BY TABLET.

>> I THINK IN OUR COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY HERE IN PEORIA, WE'R% QUITE FORTUNATE IN THAT WE DO HAVE A FAIRLY WELL-VETTED SYSTEM FOR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO NEEDS TO GO SEE SOMEONE IN A CRISIS IN THE FIELDS, NOT JUST THE POLICE OFFICER.

WE'LL ENGAGE ERS, NEW JERSEY RE -- EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM, AS AN ADJUNCT TO HELP THE POLICE HANDLE A CERTAIN SITUATION.

OTHER COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF PEORIA MAY NOT HAVE THAT SO MUCH.

SO I SPEAK FROM THAT POSITION.

I -- WE ARE FORTUNATE HERE THAT WE HAVE MORE OF THESE SYSTEMS IN LINE TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH WHAT THEY NEED TO HAVE.

AND DE-ESCALATE THINGS IN THE FIELD.

I'M AN EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN.

I'M SPEAKING ALSO FROM THE ASPECT OF PATIENTS THAT COME IN TO ME ARE OFTEN IN THE WORST WAY THAT THEY'VE EVER BEEN IN THEIR LIFE.

AND IT'S AN EXTREME SITUATION.

A LOT OF THESE OTHER SITUATIONS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN SCHOOLS AND THINGS LIKE THIS, THEY'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THEIR ACUTE.

SO I -- ACUITY.

I THINK TELEMEDICINE PLAYS A PART IN THIS TO EXPAND OUR -- INDIVIDUALS WE HAVE TO TREAT THESE PEOPLE.

BECAUSE THERE' NOT A LOT OF PRACTITIONERS AND -- YOU KNOW, EXPANDING THEIR REACH THROUGH% TELEMEDICINE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE FIELD I THINK THAT IS ALSO A MORE EXPANDING ROLE THAT WE'VE SEEN.

AND THAT IS THE EDUCATION OF TEACHERS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREMEN, CLERGY.

THESE INDIVIDUALS AND HOW TO HANDLE PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN THE EXTREME CONDITION.

AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY COME UP IN THE PANDEMIC, IS AN EXPANSION OF THAT IDEA, THAT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO MANAGE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS MORE EFFECTIVELY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE THE FIRST PEOPLE TO INTERACT MAYBE, TOO.

IT MAY NOT BE A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

IT'S PROBABLY EVERYBODY YOU SAID.

SO EDUCATING THEM TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER SERVICES AND DIFFERENT THINGS AVAILABLE.

AND I THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT SPECIFICALLY HAS SEEN A HUGE INCREASE AS WELL IN THE AMOUNT OF CALLS THEY'RE GOING OUT ON.

AND SO I THINK THAT WILL BE EXPANDING JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING NEED THE ASSISTANCE BECAUSE HAVING SO MANY MORE CALLS.

>> DR. FREDRICK MENTIONED THE RURAL ASPECT OF THIS.

WE'RE DEALING WITH PROVIDERS IN McCLAIN COUNTY, PEORIA COUNTY, TAZEWELL COUNTY.

WHAT ABOUT THE SPARSELY POPULATED COUNTIES?

WHAT -- IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN -- IN TELE -- AND TELEMEDICINE MAY BE A PART OF THIS, BUT IS THERE A WAY TO BETTER HELP PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE SMALL COUNTIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF THERE'S ANY POSITIVES FROM COVID, IT DEFINITELY FORCED US TO FIGURE OUT TELEMEDICINE AND QUICKLY, BECAUSE THE NEEDS DID NOT STOP WHEN COVID STARTED.

AND SO WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO DO A TEAMS MEETING AND HOW TO SEE PATIENTS ON THEIR PHONES AND SO I DEFINITELY THINK THAT HAS ONLIED UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR -- OPENED UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS HAD THEY CALL AND SAY I WANT SERVICES, AND WE SAY, WE CAN DO THIS, YOU KNOW, ON YOUR PHONE.

WE CAN SEND YOU A SECURE LINK.

PEOPLE HAVE ABSOLUTELY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

AND ARE COMFORTABLE, YOU KNOW, IN GAUGE -- ENGAGING IN THAT.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION BARRIER.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE DIFFERENT TIME PAIRIERS.

WUNG -- BARRIERS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM.

>> YOU KNOW -- >> GO AHEAD, PLEASE, JOAN.

>> I THINK IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL THING.

I THINK THERE ARE STILL SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TELEHEALTH BECAUSE OF BROADBAND ISSUES, BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE PHONES WHERE THEY CAN ONLY AFFORD A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MINUTES OR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DATA.

AND THEN -- AND THEY DON'T WANT TO OR CAN'T SPEND THAT A LOTMENT ON -- ALLOTMENT ON A THERAPY SESSION OR AN ENCOUNTER WITH A PHYSICIAN OR WHATEVER.

AND SO I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS THE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE SUPPLEMENT PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO ACCESS CARE.

>> AND HOW MUCH YOU SUPPLEMENT.

CAN YOU -- WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TRAINING CLERGY, TEACHERS.

CAN YOU REACH THAT FAR OUT AND SAY TO STARKE COUNTY, WE CAN HELP TRAIN?

BECAUSE THE TRUST LEVEL FOR A STUDENT WOULD BE WITH A TEACHER, IT MIGHT BE WITH A POLICE OFFICER THAT THEY KNOW.

BUT THEY'RE NOT TRAINED YET TO RECOGNIZE THESE CONDITIONS.

>> UH-HUH.

BUT I THINK THAT THE KEY IS THEY WANT TO BE TRAINED.

THEY REALLY WANT TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE FEAR HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO THINKING THEY'RE GOING TO SET PEOPLE OFF AND PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE BEFORE.

THERE ARE TRAINING PROGRAMS WE CAN PUT ON VIRTUALLY, LIKE QPR, IT'S AN HOURLONG TRAINING WHERE YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND -- TO PEOPLE AND INTERVENE.

IT'S A REGULAR PERSON AND YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE TO DO IT.

>> QPR.

>> QUESTION, PERSUADE, AND REFER.

>> SO USED TO IT -- >> I KNOW, RIGHT?

I SAY IT ALL THE TIME.

IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

IT'S WORTH THE INVESTMENT.

BECAUSE YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU WALK OUT OF THERE.

IF YOUR NEIGHBOR IS HAVING STRUGGLES THAT YOU CAN TALK TO THAT PERSON ABOUT IT.

>> YOU WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE QPR DISCUSSION?

>> NO.

SHE HANDLED IT.

[LAUGHTER] >> SO LET'S -- YOU BROUGHT UP QPR.

LET'S JUST GO AROUND THE TABLE BRIEFLY, AND SO THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHICH EACH SERVICES IS PROVIDED BY YOUR ORGANIZATION.

START WITH YOU, JOAN.

>> OH, GOODNESS.

>> JUST THUMBNAIL, PLEASE.

[LAUGHTER] >> CHESTNUT HEALTH SYSTEMS, WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

IN McCLAIN COUNTY AND IN MADISON COUNTY WE HAVE THE CRISIS RESIDENTIAL UNIT.

>> THAT'S METRO EAST FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHERE MADISON IS.

>> YES, METRO EAST.

WE PROVIDE DETOX FOR PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.

WE HAVE THE FULL RANGE OF DETOX OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES FOR ADULTS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A PRIMARY CARE OFFICE.

>> DO YOU HAVE FIRST I.L.?

>> YES, WE DO.

>> REAL BRIEFLY, WHAT'S THAT ENTAIL?

>> FIRST I.L.

WAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS PROGRAM.

AND THERE'S PROGRAMS -- THERE'S A DUPLICATE PROGRAM IN PEORIA THAT DOES THE SAME THING AND THE IDEA IS TO DO THAT INTERVENTION VERY EARLY IN THE FIRST EPISODE OF A PSYCHOTIC EPISODE OR BIPOLAR, SOME OF THE MAJOR MENTAL ILLNESSES.

AND TO BE ABLE TO CREATE -- DO AN INTERVENTION VERY EARLY SO THAT IT DOESN'T WAIT 10 YEARS BEFORE SOMEBODY GOES FOR HELP AND THEN YOU'VE DETERIORATED.

YOUR CONDITION HAS.

IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> CHRISTINA, UNITY PLACE, RELATIVELY NEW.

IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THREE ORGANIZATION.

UNITY POINT HEALTH, TAGSWELL CENTER FOR -- TAZEWELL VERN FOR WELLNESS, AND UNITY CENTER.

IS IT BENEFITING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST BENEFITS THAT WE'VE SEEN JUST IN THE SHORT TIME SINCE WE'VE OFFICIALLY COME TOGETHER IS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.

WE HAVE WORKED VERY QUICKLY TO PUT IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, IF EMERGENCY RESPONSE GOES TO C1 AND THE PERSON NEEDS COUNSELING, THE VARIABLE TO DO A REFERRAL FROM THE FIELD TO GET OUR ACCESS CENTER TO CALL THEM THE NEXT DAY TO SET UP COUNSELING OR PSYCHIATRY APPOINTMENT, WHICHEVER THEY NEED, IF IT'S NOT AN EMERGENT SITUATION.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT FROM OUR HOSPITAL SETTINGS, OUR INPATIENT UNITS, SO WHEN PEOPLE NEED THEY HAVE APPOINTMENTS TO FOLLOW THEM.

FIRST ILLINOIS, THEIR STAFF ARE ABLE TO COME AND MEET WITH PEOPLE IN ANY OF OUR SETTINGS.

SO WHEN WE INTRODUCE OURSELVES TO THE ENTRY POINT, WE'RE ABLE TO HELP THAT PERSON GET A LINKAGE, THAT WARM HANDOFF, AT THAT FIRST CONTACT.

>> DR. FREDRICK, I INTRODUCED YOU AS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

THE INITIAL RESPONSE WOULD BE, OH, YOU TAKE CARE OF BROKEN LEGS, ET CETERA.

WHAT ROLE CAN YOU PLAY WITH MENTAL HEALTH?

>> WELL, THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL DEVELOPING ALL THESE SERVICES OUTSIDE OF A HOSPITAL SETTING, WE'RE THERE PRIMARILY FOR PATIENTS THAT HAVE MAYBE A DECOMPENSATED CONDITION THAT'S CHRONIC OR MAYBE IT'S A NEW PROBLEM THAT THEY'RE HAVING, THAT THEY CAN'T HANDLE IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING.

SO THEY COME TO US.

WE OFFERED A MISSION SERVICES FOR PATIENTS THAT REQUIRE THAT.

BUT I THINK AS MUCH AS WE OFFERED A MISSION FOR PATIENTS THAT MAY NEED THOSE -- ADD MISS FOR PATIENTS THAT MAY NEED THE CARE, WE'RE OFTENTIMES THE GATEWAY CONNECTING WITH MANY OF THE OUTPATIENT SERVICES, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW -- AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO CONNECT WITH THOSE NOT NECESSARILY INPATIENT SERVICES THAT THEY NEED TO MANAGE WHATEVER PROBLEM THEY'RE HAVING.

THAT COULD BE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.% IT COULD BE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE.

WHICH OFTENTIMES IS LINKED TO MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

BUT THAT'S OUR ROLE.

WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS, BUT I THINK JUST AS MANY TIMES AS WE ADMIT PATIENTS TO THE HOSPITAL FOR PROBLEMS, WE OFFER THEM A CONNECTION THAT THEY CAN MAKE TO CONTINUE ON WITH THEIR CARE.

>> AND MEGHAN, AT THE McCLAIN COUNTY CENTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES, REAL BRIEF OVERVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH PROVISIONS.

>> SURE.

SO KIND OF TO PLAY OFF YOU, SO I RUN THE CRISIS TEAM, SO WE DO SERVICES OUTLOOK IN THE COMMUNITY AND EMERGENCY ROOM SETTING, AND IT IS THE GET -- AND IT IS A GATEWAY.

THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

AND SO IT REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT BE GOOD TO GET THAT EDUCATION OUT.

SO OUR CENTER PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT BASIS.

CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, THERAPY SERVICES, PSYCHIATRIC VRVESZ, AND A -- SERVICES, AND >> BACK TO THE FUNDING.

DR. FREDRICK, YOU -- CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE BILL THAT GOVERNOR PRITZKER RECENTLY SIGNED THAT -- I ASSUME DICTATES TO INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT THEY MUST PROVIDE FUNDING?

>> IT PROVIDES AN OPEN DIALOGUE AS A MEANS TO THAT END.

THAT'S HOW I INTERPRET IT.

LAST WEEK.

I FORGET THE NUMBER OF THE BILL.

>> NOT IMPORTANT.

>> NOT IMPORTANT.

>> THE IMPACT OF THE BILL.

>> THE IMPACT IS, SO.

SO BY JANUARY 1ST OF 2023.

SO A LITTLE UNDER A YEAR AND A HALF, THESE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ALONG -- IN CONJUNCTION WERE THE STATE, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP BETTER FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR PATIENTS.

ON ALL LEVELS.

FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE TO OUTPATIENT INVESTIGATOR, TO IN -- INVESTIGATORS -- SERVICES, TO INPATIENT SERVICES.

IT PROVIDES A CONSTRUCT FOR THAT TO OCCUR WITH THESE INSURANCE COMPANIES OVER THE NEXT ALMOST YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE IT'S INITIATED.

THERE'S ONLY TWO OTHER STATES IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW BESIDES ILLINOIS WHO HAVE PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS INTO THEIR LAWS.

AND SO I THINK IT'S QUITE PROGRESSIVE.

YOU MAY THINK THAT WHY WOULDN'T OTHER STATES DO THIS, BUT WE'RE ONE OF ONLY THREE THAT HAVE MADE THIS BOLD ATTEMPT TO REQUIRE COVERAGE FOR THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS.

>> AND I WANT TO TURN TO THE QUESTION OF FAMILY INVOLVEMENT.

WHAT ROLE DOES THE FAMILY MEMBER PLAY IF THEY FEEL THERE MIGHT BE A MEMBER WITH A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM?

>> THEY'RE HOPEFULLY THE LIENAGE -- LINKAGE THAT.

THEY'RE THERE TO HELP THAT PATIENT GET TO THE HELP.

AND BE THE LINKAGE TO SERVICES.

OR THEY THEMSELVES REACH OUT, HOW DO I ENGAGE THIS PERSON IN SERVICES.

>> BUT I THINK THE FEAR IS, MEGHAN, THAT -- I MAY BE WRONG OR I DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED.

>> AND I THINK WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, THE STIGMA.

WE WOULD HOPE THAT IT WAS GOING AWAY, BUT THERE IS STILL SOMETIMES MAYBE THAT'S NOT MY BUSINESS OR I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE INVOLVED AND WE'RE KIND OF DISCONNECTED IN THAT WAY.

AND THE FAMILY YOU KNOW, IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DOES PROVIDE THAT LINKAGE OR MAYBE THAT PERSON DOESN'T REALIZE THAT THINGS HAVE GOTTEN THE THAT POINT.

I WOULD SAY COVID, WE HEAR IT SO MUCH, OHIO PEOPLE COME UP TO ME WHO SAID MY CHILD CAME UP TO ME IN COLLEGE WHO HAS NEVER STRUGGLED BEFORE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE TELLING ME ALL THESE THINGS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I WASN'T PREPARED FOR THAT.

THEY'VE HAD IT ALL TOGETHER.

AND SO THEY'VE REALLY HAD TO START REALIZING, I REALLY DO NEED TO KNOW INFORMATION ABOUT THIS AND I NEED TO BE READY TO, IF SOMEBODY COMES UP TO ME, MY FAMILY MEMBER OR MY FRIENDS, AND SAYS, HEY, I'M REALLY STRUGGLING MORE THAN I THOUGHT I WAS GOING STRUGGLE THROUGHOUT THIS, BEING ABLE TO SAY I DO KNOW THERE'S SOME PLACES OUT THERE AND BE ABLE TO POINT THEM IN THE DIRECTION.

OR IF THEY'RE NOT REALIZING IT, SAYING I'M NOTICING SOME STUFF, WHAT'S GOING ON IN TRYING TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT SO IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE SUCH A BAD THING TO SEEK SERVICES.

LIKE THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG.

>> SO JOAN, DON'T BE AFRAID TO OBSERVE AND THEN INTERVENE IF -- >> UH-HUH.

>> UH-HUH.

>> BUT WE'RE ALWAYS AFRAID.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING TO ME FOR?

>> RIGHT.

AND I THINK THAT HAPPENS.

YOU KNOW, ON OCCASION.

BUT I THINK, TOO, THAT WHAT YOU WOULD FIND IS THAT PEOPLE ARE RELIEVED WHEN YOU ASK, BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO BRING IT UP.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY IT.

>> AND WITH THAT, WE HAVE TO BE RELIEVED OF THE -- TIME THAT WE HAVE.

SO MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT.

AND LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO DR. NATHAN FREDRICK.

HE'S THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR AND JOAN HARTMAN AT CHESTNUT HEALTH SYSTEMS.

THEY GO TO MEGHAN MOSER.

THE McCLAIN COUNTY CENTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES.

AND TO CHRISTINAES, MANAGER OF CRISIS SERVICES AT UNITY PLACE.

THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU WOULD LIKEWISE AT HOME.

PLEASE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.

WE HOPE YOU'VE LEARNED A LOT.

NEXT TIME WE'LL BE TALKING TO THE NEW PRESIDENT OF ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY.

JOIN US FOR THE NEXT "AT ISSUE."

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