Sweetser’s Training Director Matt Robinson speaks to Q97.9 about suicide prevention month and the free mental health first aid trainings that are available.
Op-Ed: Training in mental health first aid is now freely available – let’s access it
One in five Americans experiences mental illness each year. In Maine, by one estimate, one in six kids aged between 6 and 17 experiences anxiety and depression. On average, one person in the U.S. completes suicide every 11 minutes. According to the National Mental Health Alliance, 260,862 Mainers live in communities that don’t have enough mental health professionals.
This September, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, is an opportunity for all of us to take a step back and reflect on how our friends, family and colleagues – and we personally – are handling the stresses of everyday life.
While the pandemic has shapeshifted in intensity and severity over the last few years, the mental scars of such a traumatic time period can still be felt.
The way we work has been changing. People are starting to return to regular social engagement, even if some of us are a little rusty on the small talk. The cost of everything is putting pressure on just about every household. Not to mention news headlines from around the country and around the world that can keep us up at night. There’s been a lot of disruption and change in a relatively short amount of time. It’s a lot to manage and handle by oneself.
Let us use this month for a mental health checkup. Neither anxiety nor depression know socio-economic bounds. They do not discriminate. While stigma attached with seeking help for mental health challenges appears to be fading, recognizing the signs of mental illness isn’t always easy.
There are a few common signs to look out for: feeling sad or withdrawn for long periods; drastic changes in mood or behavior, or intense worry that prevents regular activities are just a few. If you notice any of these signs in yourself or those around you, it’s important to be understanding, ask questions and connect with mental health professionals.
Luckily, free trainings are available to help us all better support individuals in our lives when mental health challenges arise.
Because of a grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration my organization, Sweetser, provides mental health first aid and psychological first aid trainings, free of charge, across our state.
Mental health first aid is an evidence-based training program administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that teaches us how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges.
Just as performing CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, mental health first aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. The course outlines risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, teaches strategies to help someone in crisis and non-crisis situations and offers information on where to turn for help.
Anyone dealing with young people, veterans, individuals working with veterans, frontline public safety workers like fire and police departments, all should consider undertaking training like this.
Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Center for PTSD, psychological first aid has been used by the American Red Cross, first responders and law enforcement to train staff on how to respond to collective trauma experiences.
Since the start of the pandemic, the mental health needs of our first responders have been ever present. The need to better support individuals in roles that respond to and manage traumatic events is great.
Free mental health training could save a life, even your own.
Matt Robinson is Sweetser’s Director of Training.
Read full op-ed at Portland Press Herald: https://www.pressherald.com/2022/09/15/commentary-training-in-mental-health-first-aid-is-now-freely-available-lets-avail-of-it/
Tom’s of Maine Goodness Day at Sweetser
Nearly 80 staff and family members from Tom’s of Maine visited our Saco School last week to help beautify our campus. Check out our video recap:
Tom’s of Maine donates 10% of their profits each year to nonprofits promoting health, education, and the environment and their employees are encouraged to use 5% of their paid time volunteering in their community.
This annual Goodness Day is a reflection of their corporate values and commitment to giving back. We are deeply appreciative of their help and support for our students.
Shout-out to our Maintenance staff, the Volunteer Department, Development, and all others who helped coordinate and assist in making the volunteer experience memorable for all.
The campus turned out great! Just in time for the start of the new school year.
We are always looking for corporate and civic groups to help with volunteer projects around our Saco campus.
Newscenter Maine: Back to School Mental Health
Sweetser CEO featured in Behavioral Health Business article
The future of behavioral health care may look more community-based, according to Van Bramer.
Sweetser has a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) as part of its services. Its offerings include outpatient mental health services and substance use screening, a mobile crisis-response team, case management and peer-support services.
CCBHCs have garnered national attention after the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) allocated $2.16 billion to mental health initiatives and to expand CCBHCs nationwide.
“We want people to be able to stay in the community. We want them to have some symptom relief,” Van Bramer said.
Part of this is helping patients find roles in their community, whether that be a job or volunteer opportunity.
Over Van Bramer’s 30 years in the industry, she said that care has evolved to emphasize value now.
“It’s more about values than volume now. We used to always report on how many people were coming to us,” she said.”I think now, we really want to know that what we’re doing makes a difference.”
Meet our Affiliate Providers: Debra Ouimette
Sweetser partners with independently licensed clinicians dedicated to assisting Mainers with mental health and/or substance use issues. As part of the partnership, our affiliates have access to regular referrals, support with billing and processing claims, assistance with managed care, and much more.
Q: How long have you been in the profession as a whole? What are your credentials, education, background?
A: I have been a Substance Abuse Counselor for 24 years and a Christian Counselor for 17 years. I am an educator and have taught credentialing classes for Soldier On, Addictions Care Center of Albany, Sweetser, and NYS EAP. I have a Doctorate in Theology and Counseling. I am an ordained minister, counselor, mediator and hold a National Substance Abuse Professional License. My credentials are: Th.D., CASAC II, LADC, SAP
Q: How long have you been an affiliate provider with Sweetser?
A: I have been a Sweetser affiliate since 2016.
Q: What made you want to become an affiliate?
A: I moved to Maine in 2014 after having a career in New York as an addictions counselor, Christian Counselor and Educator. I owned and operated a private practice in New York for Christian Counseling. When I moved to Maine a friend of mine was a Sweetser affiliate and referred me to the affiliate program.
Q: What are the benefits to your business by being affiliated with Sweetser?
A: The benefits are the ability to manage your own schedule and clientele. I do enjoy the support that Sweetser provides to their affiliates and engage in the group supervision for affiliates.
Q: Would you recommend being an affiliate provider to someone else?
A: Keep up with your supervision, training, learn to do your own accounting, and keep track of your paperwork! Sweester is always willing to help when you reach out for help—that is a benefit!
Q: What drives you to continue serving your clients?
A: I enjoy seeing the positive changes that happen in people’s lives as a result of counseling!
Learn more about the benefits that come with being a Sweetser Affiliate.
Are you a therapist interested in becoming a Sweeter Affiliate? Contact Jan Dubois at jdubois@sweetser.org or by calling 207.294.4477.
Sweetser Stories: Makayla’s Promising Future
In June 2017, Makayla’s home life became untenable. At 17 years old, she found herself in Sweetser’s Child Crisis Unit in Saco—a place she called home for seven months.
“Before I came to the Sweetser Crisis Unit, I was self-harming to show my mom and her roommate how I was feeling because they wouldn’t listen to me verbally. The staff gave me my voice back,” recalled Makayla of the valuable coping skills she learned. “They taught me how to express myself without feeling the need to self-harm. They also gave me a stress ball to keep my hands busy when stressed or anxious. I learned to remove myself from whatever situation is causing my stress, anxiety, or madness and be able to calm myself down and then re-approach the situation. It’s been five years since I self-harmed and I’m quite proud of myself.”
She also found solace at the Saco Campus’ Ricker Farm.
“When I felt angry, the staff would take me to the farm. I favored the pigs so I would sit with them. I am an animal person so sitting with animals kind of helps me calm down. The staff would talk and listen to me. They were basically there for me when my mother couldn’t be,” she said.
She fondly recalls the Sweetser staff. “They were very nice and understanding. They were there for me during the holidays when I was there. They helped me with basic life skills. They gave me more freedom than the other kids because I was turning 18 soon and I needed to learn those skills.”
While Makayla resided on Sweetser’s Saco campus, she attended the school there. She believes had she continued living at home, she would not have been able to attend school at all and would’ve never learned the essential life skills she gained at Sweetser—skills she credits with giving her the ability to live on her own now.
One of those skills was cooking. “They [Sweetser staff] would teach me how to make some meals.”
“I was able to regain the freedom that I didn’t have at home and get the life skills and the ability to function on my own. Without Sweetser and New Beginnings, I wouldn’t have been able to find the job that I have now or live in my own apartment.”
Today, Makayla is a single mom to five-month old, Rosaline, and works full-time as a Personal Support Specialist (PSS) at a residential facility for the elderly—a job she loves.
“I love helping the elderly,” she said. “I’ve known that my whole life. As a child, I loved helping my grandparents. When I was at the Crisis Unit, I was always helping the other children, especially the little ones. That’s how I knew being a PSS was right for me.”
Learn more about what services are available to you by calling Sweetser’s PromiseLine at 1-800-434-3000. For crisis response anytime, call 1-888-568-1112.
Sweetser’s OPTIONS Clinicians Recognized by Governor at Annual Summit
Sweetser clinician Kate Dowd shakes hands with Governor Mills.
Sweetser’s OPTIONS (Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach, Naloxone, and Safety) liaisons were honored for their tireless work by Governor Janet Mills at the annual Opioid Response Summit in Bangor on July 11.
Sweetser’s liaisons are Kate Dowd of Waldo County, Will Bucklin of Knox County, Tom MacElhaney of Cumberland County, Lacey Bailey of York County, and Maria Beauregard of Sagadahoc. The team is led by Alyssa Pelchat.
Sweetser OPTIONS clinicians join other liaisons from counties across the state on stage with Governor Mills.
The OPTIONS initiative at Sweetser is a partnership with the Maine Office of Behavioral Health to improve the health of Mainers who use substances by using harm reduction strategies, supporting recovery, and providing referrals for services. As part of the program, Sweetser has licensed behavioral health clinicians in York, Cumberland, Lincoln, Knox, Waldo, and Sagadahoc counties who work with law enforcement agencies, emergency services, and community partners to reach those in need. Learn more about the OPTIONS Initiative at Sweetser.
Maine Community Bank Donates $10,000 to Sweetser to Reduce Barriers to Mental Health Care
Sweetser is honored to have the continued support from the Biddeford and Mechanics Savings Charitable Foundation to reduce barriers to accessing treatment and care for mental and behavioral health. Susan Mellon, Executive Vice President of Maine Community Bank, presented a $10,000 donation to Sweetser’s President & CEO, Jayne Van Bramer.
Maine Community Bank, with the combined strength of Biddeford Savings and Mechanics Savings, has a clear commitment to ensure that we won’t ever have to turn away clients who cannot pay for the help they need and deserve. Sweetser will continue providing services regardless of a client or family’s ability to pay, allowing low to moderate-income individuals and their families to gain control over their mental and behavioral health.
This funding will assist in removing barriers for Maine families, allowing access to mental healthcare leading to positive long-term outcomes and a brighter and more promising future for Maine people and families. Last fiscal year, Sweetser provided $102,656 in free services to uninsured, or underinsured children, families, and adults living in the bank’s service areas and $623,387 in free services to 1,479 uninsured or underinsured clients across all town/cities in Maine.
Thank you Maine Community Bank for your leadership and support for Sweetser’s mission!
Sweetser to discontinue Bangor, Belfast group homes
BANGOR/BELFAST – Sweetser, one of Maine’s largest nonprofit mental health providers, has announced plans to discontinue providing adult developmental services in Bangor and Belfast. The decision will result in the permanent closure of their group homes (agency home support program) by the end of the year.
Sweetser’s group homes in Bangor and Belfast, provide an opportunity for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live in a community setting, but operates millions of dollars in the red each year.
“This program is no longer financially sustainable given the current reimbursement rates and staffing difficulties,” says Sweetser’s new President & CEO Jayne Van Bramer. “This shift will enable us to re-focus our efforts on our core mental and behavioral health programs Sweetser is known for in every corner of our state; providing support to nearly 20,000 children and adults each year.”
In 2017, the State of Maine asked Sweetser to temporarily take on clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities during a previous organization’s bankruptcy that would have caused instability and safety concerns for their clients. Since then, Sweetser purchased the program and has continued to find ways of enhancing and maintaining high quality care for the past 4 years.
“The Developmental Services team has worked tirelessly to build a strong program and provide the very best care possible,” says Melissa Camire, Sweetser’s Senior Director of Developmental Services. “We’ve been proud to act as a provider of these critical services and are doing everything we can to support our impacted staff and clients during this transition.”
Sweetser will be collaborating with various outside agencies and the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure continuation of care for their 45 clients. Sweetser’s HR team is working with the Department of Labor to connect around 140 staff members to either other internal openings, create new positions, or find outside opportunities.
Sweetser will continue serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as part of their suite of programs including children’s residential and crisis services. Adult developmental services in Bangor and Belfast will cease operations by the end the year as clients are transitioned to other providers. Sweetser’s Bangor office and residential units will be closed at that time.
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For media availability, additional information, & comment:
Justin Chenette, Communications & Public Relations Director
207-590-3266 (cell), jchenette@sweetser.org