Polk County Fit, Fresh, and Friendly Engages Crisis Management Professional for Community Health Talk 

 

Sometimes life seems like it is too much to handle, and we feel like we just can’t take it anymore. 

 

Some people call it being stressed out… at your wit’s end… overloaded… anxious… burned out… depression… a nervous breakdown. Whatever you call it, there’s help just a telephone call away — 888-573-1006. 

 

By calling this number, you can speak to a crisis management professional, and if need be, a team of healthcare professionals will be sent to wherever you are in Polk County to help you or a loved one deal with the overwhelming situation that has caused you to reach out for help. This “Mobile Crisis Management” service is free and available 24 hours a day, every day including all holidays. Help will arrive within two hours; typically help arrives within 30 to 45 minutes. 

 

Once the Mobile Crisis Team arrives at your home, workplace, or wherever you are, they will assess your situation by asking questions as to why you feel the way you do. They are there to care, advise, and give you the necessary help you need to feel better and to know there are hopes and solutions to your problems. This service is provided only because you ask for it, and at no time will your freedom or personal rights be violated. Only in extreme cases, when a person is a danger to him or herself or others, will Involuntary Commitment be used.  

 

One of the biggest questions that people ask when considering reaching out for help is “what constitutes a mental health crisis?” Basically, if you feel you need help now or something terrible might happen — like death, physical injury, suicide or violence — please call. Here is a list of situations that qualify for Mobile Crisis Support… 

  

• Generallyoverwhelmed by life 
• Suicidal thoughts or attempt
• Think you are having a nervous breakdown
• Think you are having an anxiety attack
• Think you may have overdosed on medication or street drugs
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Think you have an addiction problem, drugs or alcohol
• Drunk and incapacitated
• Seeingthings that are not really there 
• Beentold you are delusional 
• Depression
• Psychotic break because of stress or stopped taking prescribed medications
• Havinga break from reality 
• Profoundsadness 
• Feelings of isolation
• Don’tknow what to do when you lose your job or a loved one 

 

There is no shame in asking for help. We all need help sometimes. The mission of the Mobile Crisis Management services is to intervene when asked and to help before the problem requires hospitalization. Even though helping people so they do not need to go to the hospital is a primary goal, sometimes a visit to the nearest emergency room is the correct action, depending on how serious the problem is. We do not dispense drugs. Our goal is to figure out the problem, calm down the situation, and point the person in the right direction for the best help. 

 

The healthcare professionals who actually make the visits are all qualified and licensed clinicians, such as Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialists. 

 

On Thursday, May 23, 2019, at noon at the Polk County Public Library, Polk County Fit, Fresh, and Friendly (PF3) will host a free community health talk about Mobile Crisis Management Services, and I will be there to discuss the program, as well as prevention measures. I am the Team Lead for RHA Mobile Crisis with 25 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor. In my talk, I will discuss in detail the need for a balanced life to help avoid mental health crises. Basically, it is a three-legged stool method of balancing the mind, body, and spirit. Please join us to learn about how to avoid and manage a mental health crisis. 

 

Submitted by Don R. Killian