The 100 Families Initiative invited clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Dana Watson, Director of Crisis and Forensic Services at Arisa Health Kimberly Boyett, Co-chair of the Arkansas Progressive Democrats Caucus Chenoa Summers, and Owner of Secure Foundations Counseling Matthew Lloyd Jr for a panel discussion regarding mental health needs in the area. Community members were eager to learn how to make changes in Jonesboro systems and in their personal response to mental health stigmas and barriers.
To begin, the panelists point out that typically with mental health concerns, there are compounded issues. This can make it difficult to prioritize needs and to assess the source of an individual's challenges.
Dr. Dana Watson poses the question: If an individual is seeking assistance and he is homeless and struggling with mental health, which should be addressed first?
As another example, Watson asks, "How can we expect some people who are still suffering from generational trauma to balance that with the potency of parenting?"
Social stressors make it difficult to prioritize health and so too often issues are ignored until there is a crisis.
"Many people want to break generational trauma," Watson says, "They want to do better. They just sometimes do not have the very basic breaks that would allow them to do that, to break out of the cycle or to make the changes that they know they want to make in the future."
Whitney Fraley, County Coordintor for the 100 Families Initiative in Craighead County, follows up these statements by asking about the most significant barriers mental health clients face.
Chenoa Summers responds, affordability and transportation. Not having insurance, not being able to afford therapy sessions and medications, not being able to go to doctor's appointments, or perhaps not even being able to physically get out of one's house.
So, what can we do? The panelists advocate for a collaborative approach, using existing resources in the community so that a family or individual facing a mental health crisis can receive simultaneous wrap around support. Chenoa Summers encourages attendees to make it personal and get to know their neighbors, to expand their reach so that they are able to advocate for someone with a disability.
Awareness is also critical, agree the panelists. Conversations like this one in Craighead County need to continue to take place. City council meetings are also suggested as a good place to show up and be a part of the conversation.
Kimberly Boyett ads the necessity of diversion education and tactics in law enforcement, saying that when a person with a mental health issue comes into contact with police, they should be diverted to the appropriate resources rather than being thrust into the criminal justice system.
"If we can all bring it together, that's when we can make the real changes."
Kimberly Boyett
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