Here for Our Community: Our response to recent media events
December is a time for giving and a time for showing gratitude. It is also a time for caring for our family, friends, and neighbors who may be struggling during a time of year that is known to see an increase in substance use, depression, and anxiety.
Recently, there have been stories in the press about the state’s Community Mental Health Centers and their described failure to meet the needs of those with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Our organization, specifically, has been the recipient of negative press – from our finances to access to care to how we care for patients. The misinformation, lack of detail on state policies, and biased narrative plays to the sensationalism seen in today’s media.
Nearly 13,000 people have come through the doors here at Mind Springs Health in 2021. Whether seeking help through one of our 12 outpatient offices, through inpatient care at West Springs Hospital, or through care at our residential addiction treatment facility, patients do get care and they do get better. Our staff sees tragedy and trauma each day, and the work they do is impactful and important. The compassion our staff provides speaks louder than any news story.
We are not a perfect organization, and we do have room to grow and develop. Continued education, training, and communication throughout our organization will be fundamental in ensuring that our staff has the ability to meet the ever-growing demands on the behavioral health industry. We are also mindful of concerns throughout the communities we serve, and we are open to feedback and critique to help us continue to improve.
We will also continue, as we have for more than a decade, to advocate for payment reform and reduction of administrative bureaucracy within the behavioral health system that can create barriers to care.
The collaboration and commitment from you, our valued community partners, is integral to the mental wellness of our communities. We invite you to reach out to us with any questions you may have about our finances, spending in your community, and the care we provide. Our door is always open, and we welcome continued dialogue.
We look forward to continuing to work with our community partners to ensure that everyone on the Western Slope has the care they deserve.
Contact:
Stephanie Keister
skeister@mindspringshealth.org
970.384.3028
