6 / Building rings of resilience
7 / Rethinking FIRST AID : beyond broken bones and bandages
8 / Addressing the challenges of seeking mental health support in agricultural communities
Meet Linda Melseth, Program Manager, Gleed Orchard Manor
Agricultural communities are close to our hearts
LEARN MORE COVER STORY
Understanding behavioral health in agricultural communities
How to start the conversation about behavioral health
Building rings of resilience
2 3 4 5 6 8 9
Addressing the challenges of seeking mental health support in agricultural communities
7 10
Rethinking FIRST AID: beyond broken bones and bandages
Linda Melseth is the Program Manager at Comprehensive Healthcare’s Gleed Orchard Manor. She has been in the behavioral health field for more than 27 years and has been with Comprehensive Healthcare for almost six years.
On-site behavioral health center at Camp Hope
Comprehensive Healthcare: now hiring
Gleed Orchard Manor serves vulnerable adults who have chronic mental health and medical conditions in which they need coaching and support. Linda is proud of her impact at Gleed Orchard Manor in making clients feel safe and supported while working with community resources to make sure all of their needs are met. Linda says, “I love seeing clients thrive and experience their recovery in the least restrictive way possible. I feel privileged to see people in such a good place in their recovery.”
Natural beauty, community togetherness and a commitment to the land make our agricultural communities vibrant places to live and work.
At Comprehensive Healthcare, we recognize that agricultural communities are the heartbeat of our region — and we also see the challenges that come with modernday farming and ranching. That’s why we’ve devoted this entire summer edition to the individuals and families who grow our food, raise our livestock and feed our local culture and economy.
Inside this magazine you’ll find resources you can reference for years to come. Whether you’d like to learn what behavioral health is (page 4-5), how to connect with a neighbor (page 5), or what to keep in your mental health first aid kit (page 7), we’ve got you covered. We also share about the new funding we received to build an on-site behavioral health center at Camp Hope (page 9) and job openings with Comprehensive Healthcare (page 10).
Additionally, my colleagues and I, from several of the largest community behavioral health providers in the state, are using our collective size and expertise to advocate for systemic change at the legislative level that will improve the health of individuals and communities.
Through our organization, Fourfront Contributor, we engage key stakeholders, including lawmakers, clients, payers, and providers, to drive impactful change across the community behavioral health system.
In this recent legislative session, we worked hard to secure key funding, including a 15% increase in funding for the mental health services and substance use treatment we provide. We thank state lawmakers for their support and help in strengthening our system. These changes will impact your community’s access to care, and we want you to know that we’re here and committed to serving your community in the best way
This issue of Vibrant Communities celebrates the important role we all play in looking out for each other. We invite you to learn more about how you can care for people on your farm or ranch, at your school or church, in the local diner and elsewhere across town. Each one of us makes a difference.
Jodi
Ph.D. President and CEO, Comprehensive Healthcare Member of Fourfront Contributor
Daly,
We worked hard to secure key funding, including a 15% increase in funding for the mental health services and substance use treatment we provide. ”
“
If you are experienceing a crisis call 1 (800) 572-8122
we can.
While it’s not always talked about because of the stigma, there is an epidemic of mental health challenges — and even suicide — in our agricultural communities.
According to the 2021 Western Regional Agricultural Stress Assistance Program survey, 63% of farmers and farmworkers believe there is some stigma around mental health in the agricultural community. And 78% of nearly 800 agricultural producers in 13 western states said that stress is impacting their sleep, physical and mental health, and relationships. Of those, 4.4% reported even higher levels of stress which is connected to depression and anxiety. Left unchecked, and unspoken which is commonplace in the rural mindset, these strains can lead to devastating consequences — suicide rates among farmers are six times higher than the national average.
When we notice and talk about the common strains we experience in our agricultural communities – such as the heavy workload, lack of time for production, financial worries, and the compounding issue for some agricultural workers who experience language barriers to accessing care – then we help reduce the historic stigma that prevents people from talking about behavioral health.
Our agricultural communities are some of the strongest throughout our region – woven together with close knit relationships, neighbors who look out for each other, and family connections that span generations. When we utilize these experiences unique to small towns and learn the tools that support behavioral health, then we can truly impact our communities in life-giving ways.
Focusing primarily on agricultural communities in southeastern Washington, Comprehensive Healthcare is committed to giving residents access to the services, education and resources they need for their behavioral health. We do this by reaching into communities to identify leaders who can make a difference. Not long ago, at the request from a group in Ellensburg, we brought our Mental Health First Aid class to folks of our agricultural community to educate on how to identify, understand and respond to the signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This training also covers the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support, and how to connect someone to the appropriate care.
We can connect with your community, too. For more information about our training and development services, contact our program coordinator at commed@comphc.org or call (509) 575-4084.
If you’d like to engage and support your community’s mental health, we’ve outlined some helpful tips on “How to start a conversation about behavioral health,” and “Four steps to support your neighbors.” When we talk about our unique experiences and how they affect our behavioral health, we’re working to strengthen our vibrant communities.
While the initial conversation may feel uncomfortable, opening up and talking about difficult feelings can save a life.
• Notice any change in behavior, such as if they are not engaging as usual.
• Notice if their farm, home or business is not looking kept up as usual.
• Are they personally looking different and unkept?
• Are friends or family members expressing concerns?
• Are they saying that they are depressed?
• Create a safe space to start the conversation that makes them comfortable with sharing.
• Continually build relationships and make connections beforehand and stay connected.
• Be available when they need you.
We recommend using the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) method to start a conversation about behavioral health.
Begin the conversation by asking how the person is doing and explain that you have noticed that their mood or behavior has changed. Lean into the conversation with compassionate curiosity.
Be an empathic listener and encourage them to talk about how they are feeling.
Connect the person to community resources such as Comprehensive Healthcare: In a crisis, call 1-800-5728122 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or (509) 575-4084 for an initial appointment or 9-8-8 for 24/7 suicide and crisis care. To take Mental Health First Aid training or other community education classes contact our program coordinator at commed@comphc.org.
By maintaining our wholeperson health, which includes our physical and our behavioral health, we develop a solid foundation for our growth and development in all aspects of our lives. According to the World Health Organization these tips can improve whole person health:
• Eat a combination of different foods, including fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains.
• Be active: adults aged 18-64 years should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week.
• Talk to someone you trust if you’re feeling down.
When we acknowledge and talk about stressors that can impact our family’s wellbeing such as the economy, housing insecurity, and threats of substance abuse, then we can be prepare and plan for these challenges and seek support to protect our family. See the back cover for agricultural community resources for families
Agricultural communities have a long history of pulling together to solve problems. By knowing and supporting your neighbors you can increase the resilience in your area. See page 4-5 for how to build connections with neighbors.
When we have a sense of purpose and meaningfulness in our lives and a connection to something bigger than ourselves, then we are better able to withstand tough times. This may be a connection to faith, nature, art, music – whatever it is for you, when you listen to that and feed your higher purpose you can become more resilient. What’s your higher purpose?
Comprehensive Healthcare is committed to helping build vibrant communities. One way we do this is by sharing ways that people can become stronger together through their connections, which makes our communities more resilient. This idea of resilience refers to the ability to withstand or recover quickly from challenges or difficulties. When we build resilience within ourselves and those connected to us, we become stronger which positively impacts our communities.
We can think of this concept like the internal rings of a tree trunk. These rings of the tree illustrate the years of life the tree has devoted to building its strength. Like the tree, when we have our essential needs met such as fresh air, clean water,
a safe home, families who love us, a sense of purpose and connections within our communities, then we are stronger – we are more resilient. This strength helps us face the challenges and difficulties we experience as part of life. Like a tree in the wind, we may bend and stretch as we experience the adversities of life, but thanks to our strong core – our resilience – we don’t break. We bounce back. Teaching, learning, and practicing resiliency skills leads to better outcomes for us, our families and our communities.
We’ve outlined these rings of resilience here as a way to reflect on our own resilience and discover areas of strength and opportunities for growth.
When someone has a cut or a sprain, we know to get out the first-aid kit. But what should we do when a person we care about is experiencing a mental health or substance use issue? Even though these challenges may not show up physically, they are still very real. Below we offer some handy tools that help us look out for each other – especially in agricultural communities.
Common gathering places – like the morning coffee spot, a school, church or even the feed store – are often important places to seek community, combat isolation and loneliness, and help to manage everyday challenges. When these natural support hubs are strengthened by leaders who have been trained through Comprehensive Healthcare’s community education classes like Suicide Awareness for Everyone (SAFE) and Mental Health First Aid, these people become important lookouts in the community’s landscape. To learn about our training and development services, contact our program coordinator at commed@comphc.org or call (509) 575-4084.
When you stop by and ask your neighbors small questions, it can help their mental health in large ways. Here are some examples of questions you can ask:
“How have you been feeling?”
“I’m stopping by the grocery store; let me know if you need anything.”
“How’s your day/week going?”
At Comprehensive Healthcare, we offer a wide range of innovative behavioral health care services to meet individual, family and community needs services such as: crisis response, adult outpatient therapy, family and youth services, mental health first aid training, addiction and substance abuse disorder services and more at www.comphc.org. In a crisis, call 1-800-572-8122 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or (509) 575-4084 for an initial appointment or 9-8-8 for 24/7 suicide and crisis care.
The signs and symptoms of depression affect everyone differently. If someone you know has been experiencing these symptoms for more than 14 days, it’s time to have a conversation and link them with resources. Some symptoms of depression are:
• A change in a person’s routines or social activities, such as, in agricultural communities, you may notice a decline in the care of domestic animals or in the appearance of the farmstead
• Experiencing feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness, or hopelessness
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as work, hobbies or sports
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things on a farm, could lead to an increase in accidents
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
With the growing need for behavioral health services, Comprehensive Healthcare continues to develop creative solutions to ensure people can access care when they need it. Here’s how we’re solving some of the challenges people face in the agricultural communities we serve:
The drive from my farm to a behavioral health clinic could take hours; how can I access behavioral healthcare services when it’s such a long commute?
During the pandemic, Comprehensive Healthcare’s secure telehealth platform enabled clients to access services online. This popular service, post-pandemic, reduces the time and cost of traveling, increases access to care, and creates a quality interaction between individuals and their clinicians – similar to in-person appointments –to provide overall client satisfaction.
Simply call Comprehensive Healthcare at (509) 575-4084 and ask about our telehealth options.
My family doesn’t have health insurance. How can I get care?
When you reach out to Comprehensive Healthcare to request services, just let our team know that you need health insurance. You may qualify for state insurance and our team can guide you through the process of starting your coverage. We provide bilingual support as well.
If there are long wait times to get access to outpatient or other preventive behavioral healthcare services, mental health needs might escalate further, putting me or someone I care about at risk for a crisis or suicide. What should I do if I need care immediately?
The stigma around accessing mental health care is preventing me from reaching out for help, what do I do?
Comprehensive Healthcare provides a free crisis phone service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to address mental health or substance use crisis. In some areas, we have limited same-day appointments available to meet urgent needs.
For immediate mental health crisis services call 1-800-572-8122 or 9-8-8
Anyone can have behavioral health challenges – your neighbor, your friend, or your co-worker. When we share our personal experiences, we help reduce the stigma which helps everyone. To help you feel more comfortable accessing services, we offer telehealth visits where you can connect with our services privately and easily.
Comprehensive Healthcare recently received more than $1 million in Washington state funding to build an innovative onsite behavioral health service center and transitional housing at Camp Hope - a low-barrier emergency homeless encampment in Yakima, Washington. Camp Hope meets the safety, shelter, clothing and food needs of more than 180 people each day. Comprehensive Healthcare will treat clients who live at Camp Hope and suffer from complex behavioral health and substance abuse challenges.
The service center will be built from low-cost, long lasting and easily movable shipping containers. At the site, our staff will provide therapy and other outpatient behavioral health services, coordinate healthcare needs and more to support
residents at the camp. In doing so, we will decrease barriers and provide equitable access to behavioral healthcare for the region’s most vulnerable populations.
“We’re proud to partner with Camp Hope to provide solutions to our region’s most pressing economic, social and health challenges,” said Jodi Daly, president and chief executive officer of Comprehensive Healthcare.
This is a new and refreshing approach to behavioral health services that hasn’t been done in other places. “For those facing homelessness, the ability to service community members on-site, where they live, is a game changer,” said Mike Kay, executive director of Camp Hope.
For those facing homelessness, the ability to service community members on-site, where they live, is a game changer.
— Mike Kay, Executive Director of Camp Hope
If you want to help people improve their lives, we have jobs for you!
We value our team members with competitive benefits including tuition reimbursement, holiday pay and student loan forgiveness. Our employees are team-minded, creative and compassionate individuals who enjoy being challenged and continually strive for excellence. We have a variety of openings from clinical and medical providers, to care coordinators, crisis outreach experts, and beyond. Read on to learn about job openings.
Yakima, WA
DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICESOur Director of Residential Services is responsible for our residential treatment programs across Yakima. This includes developing robust programs and ensuring clients receive high quality services and treatment to enhance their recovery.
All locations
Therapists utilize evidence-based practices to provide clients and their families with support in learning new skills and connecting to community resources. We have opportunities in outpatient and school-based settings.
NURSERN OR LPN
Ellensburg, WA
Now offering $15,000 hiring bonus to all full-time nurses!
Nurses collaborate with teams of professionals to provide integrated, evidence-based treatment to clients.
• Bonuses for eligible staff
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Online, text-based primary health care – 98point6
• Legal Service Plan
• Funded team-building activities
VICE PRESIDENTYakima, WA
The Vice President is responsible for ensuring the quality, accessibility and implementation of each program is exceptional. In addition to managing existing clinical services, the Vice President is also responsible for new program development, strategic affiliations and special projects.
Pasco, WA
Crisis Outreach Professionals are part of our Acute Care team, which provides intervention and support to individuals who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.
For employment opportunities with Comprehensive Healthcare visit https://comphc.org/ employment/ or contact Megan Peters, Recruitment Specialist, (509) 576-4337, megan.peters@comphc.org
Comprehensive Healthcare has been awarded a $4 million Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Planning, Development and Implementation (PDI) grant for Walla Walla County to help improve access to mental health and substance use care.
The grant showcases the good work being done at our agency and highlights our dedication and proven track record in providing high quality care to individuals with mental health, substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. The CCBHC grant will provide an opportunity for us to continue to grow and thrive as a behavioral health care agency by focusing on current workflow processes for outreach, screening, assessment, treatment, care coordination, and recovery rehab support enabling us to:
• Decrease the readmission rate for individuals discharged from a psychiatric inpatient treatment facility
• Increase the number of crisis followup services
• Improve timely access to active treatment by decreasing the number of days from intake evaluation to the first treatment appointment
• Increase staff training and knowledge of underserved and/or marginalized populations
We’re pleased to announce that Comprehensive Healthcare has received a grant from the Washington State Healthcare Authority to provide mobile Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services in our underserved communities. With the great deal of interest in getting drug antagonists – drugs that reverse the effects of opioids, heroin and other drugs – in our communities to treat addiction, we will now be able to treat up to 100 people a day in a customized mobile MAT clinic. We will provide optimum client care in a safe, efficient and respectful treatment center. The roll out will be in 2024, and will be serviced by two nurses, a security officer/driver, a medical provider, and a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) counselor.
Yakima Center
402 S. 4th Avenue
P.O. Box 959
Yakima, WA 98907
(509) 575-4084
comphc.org
Ellensburg Center
707 N. Pearl Street
Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 925-9861
Cle Elum Center
402 1st Street
Cle Elum, WA 98922
(509) 674-2340
Sunnyside Center
1319 Saul Road
Sunnyside, WA 98944
(509) 837-2089
Pasco Center
2715 Saint Andrews Loop, Suite C
Pasco, WA 99301
(509) 412-1051
Goldendale Center
112 W. Main Street
Goldendale, WA 98620
(509) 773-5801
Walla Walla Center
1520 Kelly Place, Suite 234
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 524-2920
White Salmon Center
432 N.E. Tohomish Street
White Salmon, WA 98672
(509) 493-3400
Kennewick Center
7404 West Hood Place
Kennewick, WA 99336-6718
(509) 792-1747
When it comes to behavioral health services, Comprehensive Healthcare is here for you. We try our best to answer your questions and share important community resources with you. Just visit “Getting Help-Resources” on our website at https://comphc.org/getting-help/clientresources/ to learn about all the community partners and resources available to you.
As always, if you have questions about your care, you can always ask your therapist or provider, or give us a call at (509) 575-4084.
