- Behavioral Health, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed our lives in ways we never could have expected. For many people, these changes have been difficult. Now more than ever, it is important to reach out for help if you are beginning to suffer mentally and emotionally. Here is what we want you to know. Support groups can help For people already dealing with mental health concerns, isolation has been one of the hardest parts of the pandemic. Humans are social creatures. Many who had relied on community resources for support, such as senior centers, day programs, and wellness centers, were left in vulnerable positions when those gathering places closed. Many people are also experiencing grief as a result of the pandemic, even if they haven’t lost anyone due to COVID-19. Some people may have flare ups of depression and anxiety as a result. People may even develop new cases of depression and anxiety, even if this wasn’t previously an issue. Mental health support groups can be a huge help. It’s comforting to know that someone else is going through the same thing you are, that you are not alone. They also give you the opportunity to learn from others. And because many groups are virtual due to the pandemic, it’s easy to log on from whatever device you choose. Anne Arundel Medical Center’s (AAMC) COVID-19 Loss and Grief Support Group is one of those groups. Sessions are held via Zoom and are for anyone affected by the virus. The group, led by AAMC’s Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, meets Wednesdays from 5-6:30 pm. To join, email [email protected]. Support for Children Keep in mind that these are hard times for our kids, too. Their lives – including school routines, activities and gatherings with friends – look completely different today than they did a year ago. A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that 71% of parents worry about the effect the pandemic has had on their children’s social skills. Meanwhile, 55% of parents say their children have been acting out more since the pandemic started. Kids thrive on structure. This is important to remember as the school year begins and many are enrolled in online classes. Build breaks into their schedules and make sure they are getting outside. A little fresh air and sunshine can do wonders. We encourage parents to make time to talk to their kids and find out how they are coping. Even if you don’t have a lot of extra time these days, a five-minute conversation can make a difference. Pay attention to changes in their eating and sleeping habits and call your doctor with concerns. AAMC is also working on setting up a COVID-19 support group for teens. To learn more, email [email protected]. But don’t forget, parents need to look out for their own mental health, too. You can’t take care of anyone else if you aren’t first taking care of yourself. We are safe, ready and open If you or someone you love is experiencing mental health issues, whether it’s because of COVID-19 or something else, please don’t hesitate to seek help. Early in the pandemic, we set up telehealth services for patients, allowing them to get care from the comfort of their homes. AAMC’s Psychiatric Day Hospital along with our outpatient clinics offer both in-person and online services. Our hospital, including our Emergency Department, Pathways and the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center, all have procedures in place to protect against the spread of COVID-19. We are safe, ready and open for you. There is always help, and there is always hope. Authors Eric Anderson, MD, FAPA, is the medical director of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center. Cindy Radovic, MA, BSN-BC, is clinical director of Emergency and Inpatient Mental Health Services at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) Foundation held its biennial Denim & Diamonds Bash on Saturday, April 29, at AAMC’s South Campus. More than 1,100 people attended the event, raising nearly $1 million to support AAMC’s efforts to increase mental health services. “You don’t often get to host something that can positively impact the lives of thousands of people,” said Jan Wood, Foundation president and chief development officer. “Thanks to strong community and corporate support, the funds generated through this event will help us provide critical funding for mental health care and programs in our region.” Last year, AAMC opened its Psychiatric Day Hospital, an intensive daytime treatment program providing clinical, diagnostic and mental health treatment services for adults and adolescents. The program is designed for patients who are either transitioning from inpatient care or need help stabilizing a condition in order to prevent hospitalization. AAMC also wants to help expand access to mental health services and filed a Certificate of Need (CON) with the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) last year to establish a 16-bed mental health hospital. That decision is pending.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogTo meet the historic and growing needs of mental health services in Prince George’s County, Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) has opened an inpatient psychiatric unit at its new Behavioral Health Pavilion located on the hospital’s Lanham campus. With the addition of these 16 inpatient psychiatric adult beds, it expands the continuum of care, supporting and being supported by the services operating on-site. “When Luminis Health was formed, we made a commitment to increase quality, accessible safe healthcare in Prince George’s County,” said Tori Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health. “Since 2019, we have invested more than $85 million at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center, including opening the new Behavioral Health Pavilion to provide additional much needed services to the communities we serve.” In the summer of 2022, Luminis Health opened the first floor of the Behavioral Health Pavilion and currently provides the following services: Outpatient Mental Health Center to provide therapy and medication management for adults Behavioral Health Walk-In Urgent Care for non-emergent behavioral health concerns for ages four years old and up. This service is available Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Psychiatric Day Treatment Program which includes a mental health partial hospitalization program and an intensive outpatient program for adults and adolescents. “Since opening the first floor of the new Behavioral Health Pavilion, we’ve treated more than 300 patients in our outpatient programs,” said Dr. Aliya Jones, executive medical director of Behavioral Health at Luminis Health. “Our new inpatient psychiatric unit on the second floor will provide specialized treatment around the clock for adults who need intense mental health and critical psychiatric care.” With the completion of the new Behavioral Health Pavilion, Luminis Health is now launching a $300 million capital improvement project to renovate and upgrade the campus of LHDCMC. A major component of the project is to build a new Women’s Health Center to expand women’s and children’s healthcare services in Prince George’s County. One of the bold goals of Vision 2030, our 10-year strategic plan, is to eliminate maternal and infant mortality. “It is unacceptable that 8 out of 10 women have to deliver their baby outside of the County because of a lack of obstetrical and other healthcare services,” said Deneen Richmond, president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. “It’s a deep concern because the maternal mortality rate for Black women in Prince George’s County is 50 percent higher than the national average. We join Governor Wes Moore and his administration’s priorities for advancing health equity and addressing the mental health and obstetrical needs of all Marylanders.” Once Luminis Health receives state approval for the proposed women’s tower, construction will begin immediately and take three to five years to complete. The state-of-art facility will provide obstetrics services, labor and delivery, and postpartum care.0
- Behavioral Health, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) has submitted a Certificate of Need (CON) to the Maryland Health Care Commission for a 16-bed inpatient behavioral health unit. “Adding this new service is an important step for Luminis Health and the community. We are committed to removing barriers to health care, and ensuring everyone has access to the care needed to live a healthy life,” stated Victoria Bayless, chief executive officer of Luminis Health. “We will also be adding outpatient programs and services, as well as working to eliminate healthcare disparities, not only on our Lanham campus, but in the community at large. This would be impossible without the support of leaders from Prince George’s County. This is truly a partnership that will benefit the entire region.” Prince George’s County is home to nearly one million residents and spans an area of 500 square miles, with two acute care units for inpatient behavioral health currently in the county. In 2019, more than half of the adult admissions from Prince George’s County (1,900 cases) were admitted to out-of-county hospitals. More than 900 patients required hospital-to-hospital transfer for psychiatric admission. “We know that when a community member requires inpatient mental health care, half of the residents leave the county, with nearly a quarter traveling to Washington, D.C.,” said Deneen Richmond, President of LHDCMC. “On the Lanham campus, we will develop a continuum of behavioral health services by providing local access to acute inpatient services and additional outpatient and crisis options for individuals facing mental health and substance use disorder challenges.” The proposed project will include a 16-bed acute adult care behavioral health unit at LHDCMC. The acute care program is designed to provide a safe and clinically expert environment to engage patients and families in their treatment and healing, link patients directly to care transition services, and assure continued patient-provider relationships after discharge. Richmond explained, “We are more committed than ever to continuing our mission to provide Prince Georgians with the care they need and deserve. We look forward to working with the Maryland Health Care Commission to gain approval for these needed beds.” Residents can learn more about the project or write a letter of support by visiting here: https://www.dchweb.org/behavioral-con .0
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAbby Forbes was in drug rehabilitation for the second time when she had to overcome an unexpected hurdle. By the time she was in her mid-twenties, Abby had been battling addiction for nearly a decade. She began consuming alcohol at 15, drinking to the point of blacking out. She later began experimenting with marijuana and ecstasy before moving on to heroin. Her addiction led her to Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s drug and alcohol treatment facility, where she was determined to get clean for good. But a new obstacle stood in her way. This time, it was in the form of adventure therapy, Pathways’ hands-on outdoor activities course designed to challenge patients’ problem-solving skills. Abby remembers standing on a wooden platform with about 15 other people. Each person had to climb up a rope and swing to another platform several yards away. As Abby struggled with the rope, the others tried to help. Still, she was determined to do it herself, insisting to the group that she could handle it despite falling twice. Mark Sakraida, Pathways’ adventure therapy coordinator, walked over to her. His words remain clear in Abby’s mind, 16 years later. “How is that like recovery?” he asked her. It was as if a lightbulb went on in Abby’s mind. “I learned to ask for help,” she says. “I couldn’t do it alone” Abby first came to Pathways in 2000, after her parents had kicked her out of their home. “I was in a very child-like state,” she recalls. “I wanted what I wanted, when I wanted it.” She briefly moved in with a boyfriend, living in his family’s basement in squalid conditions. After a few days, she called her parents. They told her she could come back home – as long as she went to rehab. She remembers having a chip on her shoulder the first day at Pathways, though she felt better after receiving treatment for drug withdrawal symptoms. Abby stayed at Pathways for 15 days. She loved the supportive community there, but didn’t know what to expect upon being discharged. “I was scared,” she says. “I left with knowledge of coping skills. And then it somehow evaporated.” Abby says she got back in touch with other users, and fell back into her old habits. Seven months later, she returned to Pathways. This time, she was in a different place mentally. “I wasn’t as nervous. I was excited about who I was going to meet and learn from,” she says. Abby had been through adventure therapy when she was at Pathways the first time, when she learned the importance of teamwork. Yet it wasn’t until she was back for a second round, standing on that platform and working hard to climb up the rope, that the lessons hit home. “I couldn’t do it alone,” she says. READ MORE: The benefits of play: Why the playground is essential to a child’s development The benefits of adventure therapy Now 42, Abby has been sober since 2001. She works as a peer support specialist with the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, connecting addicts with community resources such as Pathways. Abby says Pathways gave her a strong foundation that has served as the basis for her successful recovery. She regularly attends 12-step meetings, where she met her husband. And she’s still not afraid to ask for help when she needs it. Mark, who has served as adventure therapy coordinator since 1994, cites an ancient Chinese proverb when explaining why adventure therapy works. “Tell me, I’ll forget. Show me, I’ll remember. Involve me, I’ll understand,” he says. “I tell patients that my job is to take them out of their comfort zone – and I think I do a pretty good job of that.” More than a decade and a half after leaving Pathways, Abby finally got the chance to thank Mark. She was at a work meeting at Pathways this summer when she walked past him in the hallway. She stopped and told him how she still thinks about the lessons she learned so many years ago. “He has a special place in my heart,” Abby says. Mark says he relishes every chance he gets to give his patients a dose of Vitamin A – “pure adrenaline.” “Every day I do this is a blessing,” he says. Ask questions, find resources and learn more at askAAMC.org/HealthyMinds.0
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