In September, St. Elizabeth Physicians came together with community partners in an attempt to answer important questions about the mental health crisis in Northern Kentucky.
“It’s not a secret that there is a mental health crisis in the community and nationally,” said Dr. Heidi Murley, President and CEO of St. Elizabeth Physicians. There are still gaps in resources needed to reach everyone. At St. Elizabeth Physicians, we know that our patients benefit when we improve overall community health, and good mental health part is an important part of overall health. In 2023, we focused on our responsibility to provide mental health care for our community, to understand existing gaps, and to work together with community partners who also support mental health to better meet the needs of ourcommunity. We decided to focus on three different mental healthsubgroups: children and adolescents, chronically mentally ill adults, and geriatric adults–who often have a variety of physical health conditions as well.”
A Strain on Our Systems
Problems with mental health impact a variety of other systems, Dr. Murley noted. People with untreated mental health issues may be unable to maintain steady employment, may become reliant on assistance from community support agencies, may interact with law enforcement, and may be more likely to develop substance use disorder or attempt suicide. Mental health patients who become involved in criminal activity may find themselves incarcerated, making it necessary for the criminal justice system to provide resources and care in a setting that isn’t optimal. In local schools, teachers and other school staff are faced with mental health issues among their students, which can impact learning.
This was a focus of keynote speaker Robin Burrow, representing the Joe Burrow Foundation, which focuses on food insecurity and mental health. Burrow shared her experiences dealing with the varied needs of the children she worked with as a teacher and principal in Athens, Ohio–a job she held until recently. Her inspirational message on supporting child mental health was a great kickoff for the day’s activities.
Speakers from Interact for Health, NorthKey, SUN Behavioral Health, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the Alzheimer’s Association and St. Elizabeth Physicians outlined the current landscape in the region, sharing local data on community needs, inpatient care, and outpatient care. Many noted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our community’s mental health.
“Following the pandemic, we’re seeing that many patients need mental health support longer; people need more follow-up appointments, which can limit access for new patients,” Dr. Murley said. “On the inpatient side, our partners at SUN Behavioral Health have almost 200 beds at their facility in Erlanger, and those beds are often full. Addressing access issues remains a primary goal of this collaborative summit.”
And, she said, “the ties between physical and mental health are numerous. People with serious mental health concerns may not take appropriate care of their physical health, and conversely, people dealing with poor physical health may experience a negative impact on their mental health as well.”
Looking Ahead
After hearing presentations from providers and partners, summit attendees had a chance to provide feedback on what priorities should be addressed in the region. Notes from those conversations will be coupled with survey data from attendees in an effort to develop a plan to close the gaps in the mental health care system in Northern Kentucky.
“We are not at the end of the conversation. At a minimum, we will have working groups to address concerns going forward to assist our three target demographic groups of children and adolescents, chronically mentally ill adults, and older adults,”Dr. Murley said. “This is not a problem that St. Elizabeth can solve alone. It takes bringing together multiple community stakeholders and leaders to address.”
As community leaders work to improve systems of care, access to mental health care is available through a variety of sources.
Dr. Murley encourages community members to share concerns about mental health with their primary care providers and emphasizes that if you don’t have a primary care physician, St. Elizabeth can help you find one. For more urgent needs, call NorthKey’s crisis hotline 859-331-3292. Learn more about community mental health resources by clicking here.
