PEORIA MAGAZINE January 2023

Meanwhile, USHealthVest will recruit an estimated 200 full-time employees for the facility, with positions ranging from psychiatrists and therapists to nurses and technicians, care coordinators, cooks and cleaning crews. “A facility like this will be a draw to central Illinois,” Shields said. “We’ll be able to offer employees training and resources at all levels of the organi zation, which will only increase the number of skilled, talented individuals in our community.” ‘GETTING FOLKS BACK TO LIVING THE BEST LIVES THEY CAN’ Inpatient behavioral health care is the highest level of intervention for individuals experiencing serious men tal illness, enabling patients to focus on their recovery in a safe, supportive environment. In addition todiagnosis and treatment, patients receive individual therapy and participate in groups focused on topics including medication management, relaxation techniques and coping skills. The average length of stay is usually around 10 days, though it ranges. “You don't want a patient’s stay to be any shorter than it needs to be, but you don't want it to be any longer, either,” explained Sears. “There’s a balance between making sure we've treated someone to have enough stability to effectively transition to outpatient services, but not keep themso long that they become dependent on an artificial environment of support.” What’smost importantupondischarge, he said, is making sure patients have an appropriate diagnosis and proper medications, alongwith a follow-up care plan to continue the gains they made during their inpatient stay. Depending upon the severity of the illness, the latter can include a resi dential treatment center; outpatient services such as a partial hospital ization program (PHP), structured outpatient therapy-based support and comprehensive psychological care in a group setting; or intense outpatient

therapy (IOP), which is similar but shorter in duration. “The PHP and IOP programs at the new facility will be geared toward individuals who are stepping down from an inpatient stay,” said Shields. “The current PHP and IOP programs OSF offers will continue as ambulatory services for those who do not require that higher level of care.” Having that support close to home is vital to both the patient’s comfort level and knowledge of available services. “Arranging follow-up care for a patient who is two or three hours away from home can be difficult,” said Sears. “The closer you are to home when you're receiving inpatient care, the more familiar those helping arrange follow-up care will be about the most appropriate services available. “Themajority of individuals are able to return to their communities after inpa tient treatment,” added Sears. “We really are focused on a recovery model and getting folks back to living the best lives they can, as independently as possible.” Every three years, area hospitals and healthdepartments, in conjunctionwith Bradley University and Heart of Illinois United Way, conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) for the Tri-County region. According to the 2022 CHNA, mental health – specifically revolving around depression, anxiety and suicide -- was rated near the top of the health issues confronting Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties. Case in point, the survey asked respondents to self-assess their overall mental health status. “Good” mental health status fell dramatically between 2016 and 2022, from 72% down to 19%. In 2019, only 8% of respondents answered “poor.” In 2022, that percentage doubled, to 16%. “People with serious mental illness still die on average about 20 years younger than an average individual – and that’s not right,” said Sears. “We MEETING A CRITICAL – AND SOARING — NEED

can do better as a society and make sure they have access to appropriate treatment and that they have good support wrapped around them.” “We are making good strides as a community,” he continued. “UnityPoint is increasing their child and adolescent behavioral health services with the Young Minds Project, renovating the former Heddington Oaks building into a youth behavioral health facility. We have a partner in US HealthVest that will help us expand the adult behav ioral health services in central Illinois. ‘FOR PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS ... WE CAN DO BETTER AS A SOCIETY’ “That's the true definition of a com munity approach and what addressing the needs of the community really looks like, and I’m proud that we’re doing our part to help build on that.” ADULT MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES OSF Behavioral and Mental Health (309) 624-9522 OSF Behavioral Health Navigators Toll-free (833) 713-7100 UnityPoint Health and Peoria County Emergency Response Service (309) 671-8084 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline ( formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ) offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other emotional distress. Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-TALK (8255), Option 1 — DR. SAM SEARS

Amy Talcott is a senior marketing and communications analyst at RLI Corp. and a freelance writer

JANUARY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE 33