This is Emergency Services as its Defined on a Community Services Boards' Web Site

Emergency Services/Crisis Counseling is a State mandated program. This unit provides short-term crisis counseling and referrals to individuals on an emergency basis. Emergency and crisis response services include: telephone interventions; face-to-face assessments and evaluation (including pre-admission screening); psychiatric consultation and other clinical consultation about mental health, substance abuse, and special populations which include children, adolescents, geriatric, people with mental retardation, and individuals involved in the forensic system. Emergency Services/Crisis Counseling is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Everything on this website has been thoroughly examined, reviewed, evaluated, and ultimately approved by The Citizens’ Committee for the Advancement of Rational Thought and Actions in Virginia's Mental Health System….


Things Sure Aren't What They Used to be..Conditions Sure Have Changed

coming soon........

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Hey, how about a TOPLESS DAY!!!! Also Co-occurring and no wrong doors!!!!

Yes, from the agency that just keeps giving....good old Central Mountain CSB has done it again.
OK, I will admit that part of what I'm writing about is third-hand so to speak; however, several of my coworkers confirmed that they were sent a memo saying...OK folks, listen up....a memo that stated there will be no more intakes for case management when our clients are discharged from hospitals after being hospitalized using Project Funds. Those those of you who may not remember, one of our state's rocket scientists, several years ago, decided they were going to close the state mental hospitals and give the savings (from the closures) to the communities so that local bed space could be purchased (of course there were no local beds [this has already been covered]).
Anyway, (Hey, I've been working here twelve years and sometimes I get confused) where was I?
OK.
Let's say we happen across an actually mentally ill person who needs acute care....you know, inpatient treatment in a psychiatric hospital (as opposed to the crackheads and reprobates trolling for someone to take care of them). OK. Now up until a while back, here's how it worked.
A client couldn't see/have a psychiatrist unless they had a case manager. Also, couldn't have a case manager unless they'd been hospitalized twice. They/Them finally learned that the two times criteria was just too absurd.... Anyway, that all changed.
The client goes into the hospital. Discharge day they are sent to the CSB. They have an intake, are assigned a case manager and psychiatrist. Hey, that works well. They have ongoing care and don't run out of medicine.
Soooo, now I guess the folks go in the hospital. Discharged to the street. Finish off the few pills they were discharged with, decompensate, and yep.....go back in the hospital.
It's also my understanding that the crack house, my term of fondness and respect, for our drug treatment center is still taking intakes. Well, ain't that nice. Yes, bring in the ole criminals and give them treatment....but, let's spit on the mentally ill.
Just about enough to tick you off......
Where was I?
Oh, yes. It's going to get better.
This is Mental Health month. We had the old walk for the mentally Ill, wear ribbons for the mentally ill........... and now folks, yes, what we've all been waiting for,
Funny Hat Day......yes, folks, May 1st is Funny Hat Day (for the mentally ill). That's right. Wear your funny hat to work. And, we're going to have folks judge it and there'll be winners and losers and gosh it'll be so much fun and remember this will finish up or begin the month for mental illness awareness. Dang. Why didn't I think of that?

****** Here's the official announcement....honest.****************

As an activity for Mental Health Month, we will have a Funny Hat Day on May 1st. The sites participating are XXXX, VVVVV, NNNNN, & LLLLL. Judges will be at these sites to judge the hats. The staff with the funniest hat will win a prize.

***************************************************

OK. Where the hell did this come from? Did Them/They pull on the pipe too hard? Did They/Them forget to exhale? Something in the water down there?
Let's get serious, here. Who came up with this Funny Hat Day? And, how did they come up with it?
Hmmm. Did They/Them form committees? Have fifty meetings? Hmmm. Or, did they task (love that work) it to someone or some group. Or did one of They/Them just have a spontaneous creative moment? Oh, well.
Hey, if this indeed was tasked to some poor scmuck...well, my apologies (to the poor scmuck); however, it is providing a good laugh in a bizarre kind of way. You may notice that the goofy hat day is an activity for mental health month.

How in the heck can this be reconciled? We have no counseling services, we have no case management services (which means, I guess), we have no psychiatric services, and I would imagine we have no way of providing medications (Hey, doncha need one of them psychiatrist fellows to write one of them prescriptions?).....Ready for a horrible pun, It seems we're going to hang our hat on The Goofy Hat Day.

OK. It's May 1st. Yes, Goofy Hat Day. And, yes, I'm sure at least someone will show up with a goofy hat.

Now, we're parading around in our goofy hats and a mentally ill person comes to our office seeking help.

Gosh, sir or madam, nope ain't got no services for you, but, hey, you're welcome to hang around and see the goofy hats. You're suffering extreme mental distress? Hey, see that hat over there, that's a pretty funny one, ain't it.

You're having visual hallucinations. Hmmm. Sorry, maybe you better not come in.

Changing subjects. They/Them came out with this No Wrong Door Stuff! As I best remember it They/Them said that no matter what services a person sought at any of our sites, they would be welcomed with open arms and taken care of. Yes, if they were using crack (Hey, is that still against the law? No stupid, it's a disease.) we wouldn't send them to the old drug center, we would embrace them and provide whatever they needed (or demanded as the case may be). That's a pretty good one. It would seem that if a citizen is seeking mental health help today...hey, they ain't no doors and if they could find one it'd be bolted shut.

Well, I'm tired of writing and am going to quit for now. I'll tackle the co-occurring stuff later.

Now, what's this about topless? I almost forgot. Why not a topless day instead of a goofy hat day? Or, like a flash, how about a goofy hat and topless day. Hey, at least the mentally ill who might happen by seeking services might get a kick out of it. Yeah, topless with your goofiest hat and yes, there will be judges. I'll leave up to the judges as to well....hmmm... what they're going to be judging.

Till the next time.......