Have questions about accessing mental health care? Are you experiencing a mental health crisis? Help is just a phone call away.
Annika Sproule with Washtenaw County Community Mental Health is providing support to callers.
For Michiganders looking for answers about mental health care or experiencing a crisis, help is just a phone call away, according to several area mental health experts.
“I just ask people to call and ask questions,” said Melisa Tasker, program administrator. Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) “There’s a lot of stigma around mental illness and mental health treatment, so I encourage people to call and ask questions.”
In 2022, the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifelineprovides 24/7 crisis response across the country while also raising mental health awareness. In Michigan, many community mental health agencies, such as WCCMH, are designated referral points for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, but also have local numbers that provide immediate access to 24/7 crisis teams within residents’ immediate areas.
Melissa Tasker“The best way is to call our main number, 734-544-3050,” Tasker said, “which is a 24/7 access line that can reach us for outpatient mental health services for adolescents and adults, outpatient IDD programs for adolescents and adults, substance use disorder programs, and our mobile crisis response team that is available 24/7.”
Tasker believes more people are using WCCMH’s services: WCCMH’s crisis line receives about 8,000 calls each month, double the number in 2019. WCCMH is seeing an increase in calls from youth and families, which Tasker said is “great because early intervention is really important.”
“This is a sign that seeking help when your brain is sick is becoming more accepted and common,” she says. “The more we can recognise that mental health is like any other health condition, the sooner treatment is given, the better the outcome.”
OnPoint staffers, from left, Kaitlyn Oakes and Allison Schuyler, talk in a room where staff and the public can comfortably meet.
CCBHC opens more doors to more people
Another important way in which access to mental health services has expanded is Accredited Community Behavioral Health Center program U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow There are more than 30 CCBHCs in Michigan, including WCCMH and the Community Mental Health Agency of Allegan County. On PointPrior to the creation of CCBHCs, mental health facilities were limited in which patients they could see based on insurance or the severity of their mental health crisis.
“I [CCBHCs have] “It’s really helped people,” said Alison Schuyler, access point supervisor for OnPoint. “We don’t turn away people who seek mental health services when they need them. If they need substance use services, we provide them regardless of insurance status or diagnosis.”
OnPoint staff members John Eagle and Madi Shank.OnPoint’s 24/7 emergency mobile response number is 269-673-6617 or 800-795-6617. Currently, staff are answering all calls and scheduling appointments. OnPoint is currently overhauling its processes to make it even easier for residents to receive service. Schuyler adds that the goal is to offer same-day service by the end of the summer.
OnPoint’s access overhaul is an example of how CMHs have broken down barriers to expand access to residents. But expanding access can mean more people using services, which can create scheduling issues. Insurance poses another set of problems for some. Either way, CMHs like OnPoint are open and ready to serve residents experiencing a mental health crisis.
“I think making that first call and taking that first step is the most important thing,” Schuyler says. “If there’s something we can’t provide, we can send you different resources. For example, we don’t do ADHD testing, but we have a list of providers in our area that do. We can make sure you don’t walk away empty-handed.”
CMH is case management, Comprehensive serviceWe provide health services, including group therapy, peer support, psychiatric and rehabilitation services, and respite care, as well as resources to address other needs, including food insecurity, applying for benefits like SNAP, Medicare and Medicaid, and housing.
Alice plays in a room designed for children at OnPoint.
Continue to increase access and awareness
LifewaysThe Community Mental Health Services Program (CMHSP) and CCBHC, which serve Jackson and Hillsdale Counties, also have a 24-hour crisis line at 517-789-1200, or toll-free at 800-284-8288. Callers are answered by trained and certified staff who can assist over the phone. When a phone conversation isn’t enough, LifeWays will dispatch its Adult Mobile Crisis Response Team or Youth Mobile Crisis Response Team to meet in person with people in crisis.
“Trained staff make that decision, and it starts with a phone call,” said Dave Rowe, Lifeways’ executive director of access and crisis services.
The 24/7 accessibility line comes from the creation of the 988 call line. The purpose is for people to know what number and where to call when they have a physical emergency.
“If you were experiencing excruciating chest pain, would you feel safe enough to make that decision for yourself?” Lowe says. “No, you should go to the emergency room as soon as possible.”
Lifeways’ Jackson location includes a Crisis Living Room, a quiet, safe environment where adults experiencing mental health crises can be supported, and a Crisis Residential Unit, in addition to phone access to a Crisis Services Unit.
Rooms designed for children, like this one at OnPoint, provide a comfortable environment for families and children to receive services.
In the emergency room, a heart attack may not be diagnosed. But by providing information about the cause of the chest pain, medical staff can help the patient take the first step toward overcoming the problem. Similarly, someone who visits a psychiatric facility may leave without a serious diagnosis, but with a greater understanding of the struggles and problems they’re experiencing, Rowe says.
“Are people comfortable reaching out for help?” Rowe said. “I think it’s getting better, but I don’t think we’re there yet. I think that not only are we there to provide these services and expand our services, provide phone lines and respond to immediate crises, but a lot of what we do with these lines is to get the word out to the community.”
There is still a stigma around mental health and seeking services, so it is important to try and educate and make people aware of mental health call line numbers and places to go to receive services.
“Advocacy in this area and letting people know it’s OK to come here to ask for help is a really important role that we play in this profession,” Lowe concludes.
Joan Bailey Boersma has worked as a reporter and editor for several West Michigan publications and has more than 30 years of writing experience covering a variety of topics from local news to arts and entertainment.
On Point Photo: John Grapp
Annika Sproul, Melissa Tasker, and masthead photos by Doug Combe
The MI Mental Health Series focuses on opportunities for children, teens and adults of all ages in Michigan to get mental health help when and where they need it. Michigan Community Mental Health Association, Centre for Health and Research TransformationLifeways, West Michigan Mental Health Foundation, Northern Lakes CMH Station, On Point, Sanilac County CMH, St. Clair County CMH, Summit Pointand Washtenaw County CMH.
