Tag Archives: Emergence Health Network

Earlier this week, for the first time, the National Council for Behavioral Health chose Emergence Health Network as the host for the Health Disparities: A Border Perspective Leadership Program.

“This was a great honor for Emergence Health Network (EHN) and huge opportunity to showcase various aspects of El Paso’s behavioral health care system on a national level,” said Kristi Daugherty, CEO Emergence Health Network.

The conference, held July 23 and 24, included a leadership panel of local experts who shared information on the unique aspects of life on the US-Mexico border and the many complex factors that affect healthcare delivery in our border region.

“Some of the focus has been on how EHN is using innovative ideas and partnerships to meet the behavioral health needs of our community in areas like integrated care and justice involved services that includes our Crisis Intervention Teams developed with the El Paso Police Department,” added Daugherty.

Site visits included tours of the El Paso County jail mental health clinic and a drive along the U.S. Mexico Border.

“I have learned a lot about the border region, but I am really impressed by the collaboration between Emergence Health Network and several local agencies and law enforcement to improve the delivery of mental health services,” said Sam Hasan, National Council for Behavioral Health Leadership member from Lincoln, Nebraska.

“Our visit to El Paso was important because we really got an understanding of the issues that are playing out with border health disparities, migrant health issues, and what’s happening with families,” said Mohini Venkatesh the Vice President of Business and Strategy for the National Council for Behavioral Health.

Venkatesh traveled to El Paso from Washington, DC. “We know trauma is a huge aspect of the experience for people that are going through migratory patterns and also we know that there are really awesome community solutions playing out here along the border that we can possibly learn from,” she added.

The City of El Paso Police Department, in collaboration with Emergence Health Network and the County of El Paso, took a big step forward recetly in efforts to improve the behavioral health system of care.

The department launched its Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) to serve El Paso residents experiencing a mental health crisis. The CIT is a co-responder program partnering a specially trained El Paso officer with a masters-level licensed professional clinician from Emergence Health Network.

The police officer and clinician ride together in a patrol car. Since its launch in January of this year, the CIT is fast becoming a valued resource for individuals in serious mental health crises. This model response has been implemented with a high degree of success in other communities in Texas.

“It is exciting to see this important component come alive for our system of care,” said Kristi Daugherty, CEO of Emergence Health Network, “Because of the partner commitments of both time and funding El Paso has been able to leverage funding from Texas state allocations under Senate Bill 292.”

The CIT Teams will eventually be equipped to:

• Handle the most serious CIT calls
• Assist fellow officers with CIT-related calls
• Conduct pro-active and follow-up CIT investigations

“The launch of the Crisis Intervention Team will take some time to reach the planned full level of response,” said Assistant Chief Peter Pacillas, City of El Paso Police Department. “With the help of our local community-based organizations, we hope to have a seamless response system in place before year end.”

The availability of CIT teams is an important component for the behavioral health system of care. The El Paso Police Department,Emergence Health Network and others are actively involved in the El Paso Behavioral Health Consortium’s efforts to improve the system of care.

The Consortium convenes El Paso leaders in the healthcare and behavioral health system with a mutual commitment to ongoing collaboration where all partners are welcome, empowered, and unified to achieve the ideal behavioral health service and support system and to reduce the burden of mental illness by designing improved, efficient, patient centered care for El Paso County residents to access where and when it is needed.

Development of a CIT was a major goal of the Justice Leadership Council, one of three Leadership Councils of the El Paso Behavioral Health Consortium.

“It is great to see this vital component to an ideal behavioral health system develop for El Paso County. With our community’s ongoing collaboration, El Paso residents will have better continuity of care, especially for mental health needs,” said Tracy Yellen, CEO of Paso del Norte Community Foundation/Paso del Norte Health Foundation and Chair of the El Paso Behavioral Health Consortium’s Executive Committee.

For more information on the El Paso Behavioral Health Consortium, click on this link.

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) will host her monthly March town hall meeting and first veterans town hall meeting on Saturday, March 23, at Project Amistad.

During the March town hall meeting, Congresswoman Escobar will provide residents of Texas’ 16th Congressional District with updates on her work in Washington D.C. and El Paso, and her constituent services staff will be on hand to assist with any questions or concerns El Pasoans might have or need help with.

Following the event, Congresswoman Escobar will host her first veterans town hall meeting to update El Paso veterans on the work she has been doing to improve the services and care they receive, and discuss other issues facing our nation’s veterans.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Texas Veterans Leadership Program, Emergence Health Network, and constituent services staff will be joining the Congresswoman.

WHAT – March Town Hall Meeting
WHEN – Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
WHERE – Project Amistad. 3210 Dyer Street

WHAT – Veterans Town Hall Meeting
WHEN – Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
WHERE – Project Amistad. 3210 Dyer Street

Officials with Emergence Health Network  announced Monday their selection into the National Council for Behavioral Health First Episode Psychosis Community of Practice program.

“We are very excited about this opportunity. This designation will allow EHN to participate on a national level in educating communities across the country on the importance of early detection and treatment of mental illness,” says Kristi Daugherty, Emergence Health Network CEO. The opportunity allows EHN staff to work directly with National Council to enhance the Mental Health First Aid curriculum through the inclusion of a First Episode Psychosis section.

“This is important because many people don’t realize that the onset of a mental illness usually happens in the adolescent years or young adulthood. Early treatment, as with any health condition, is vital,” says Daugherty.

First episode psychosis refers to the first time an individual experiences psychotic symptoms or conditions that affect the mind. This typically occurs between the ages of 16 and 25, yet it is common for a person to have the symptoms for several months, sometimes more than a year before seeking treatment. However, reducing the time of untreated mental illness is important for a better recovery.

The current Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training course introduces it participants to the warning signs of mental illness and teaches them the skills needed to help stabilize a person in crisis until they can connect with a mental health professional.

Just as CPR training helps a layperson with no clinical background assist a person having a heart attack. “MHFA training will be taken to the next level to improve the metal health of our residents and individuals in other communities,” added Daugherty.

“The feedback EHN provides to the National Council for Behavioral Health as part of this pilot program will be used to develop the MHFA curriculum used nationally. We are proud to be a part of such significant developments.”

MHFA training is free to the El Paso community. For more information, visit Emergence online and click on the mental health tab or email mhfa@ehnelpaso.org

As National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 26, 2018 through Sunday March 4, 2018, one local health network looks to help those El Pasoans struggling with the disorders.

“This week, Emergence Health Network (EHN) wants to stress the importance of getting help because often people with eating disorders deny or don’t realize there is a problem,” said Noreen Jaramillo, EHN Director of Communications. “That’s why we need to get the word out and let people know that the chance for recovery increases the earlier an eating disorder is detected.”

According to EHN officials,  an estimated 30 million Americans are impacted by an eating disorder; with more than 800,000 of them are in Texas alone.  Additionally, 1 person dies every 62 minutes as a direct result of an eating disorder.

Four of Ten Americans have either suffered or have known someone who has suffered from an eating disorder

EHN has licensed clinicians, trained in several therapeutic approaches to serve those in our community who are dealing with an eating disorder.

“Eating disorders are serious illnesses that can result in devastating physical and psychological suffering for the person who is struggling with it. In fact, eating disorders have the highest fatality rate of any mental illness,” said Celeste Nevarez, EHN Licensed Professional Counselor.

Warning Signs

Constantly thinking about food, weight, or body image
Experience guilt or shame around eating
Feel out of control when it comes to food
Bing eat twice a week or more
Still feel fat when others say you are thin
You weigh yourself several times daily
Vomit after eating
Uses of laxatives or diuretics to keep weight down
Severely limit food intake

For more info, click here.

Each year, more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide, leaving behind their friends and family members to deal the tragedy of loss and often the guilt that comes with it.

Many El Pasoans struggle every day with suicidal thoughts, thinking they are all alone, with nowhere to turn. Local mental health advocates Emergence Health Network are on a mission to raise awareness and change that perception.

According to EHN, 90% of people who die by suicide are also believed to have had a mental health disorder. The numbers are staggering, yet only a small percentage of individuals dealing with a crisis will seek help.

“This needs to change and that is why Emergence Health Network wants the community to know, help is available. For instance: EHN operates the crisis hotline where trained mental health professionals are available 24/7 to talk to individuals having a hard time coping with a situation,” said Kristi Daugherty, CEO Emergence Health Network.

“We also launched a mobile phone application, so within seconds El Paso residents can have access to mental health community resources and if someone they know is going through a mental health crisis they can get help by a touch of a single button. It is technology at its best and it could save lives.”

To learn more about the app, click HERE to watch the video.

Local Crisis Hotline Number   915-779-1800  |  Toll Free: 1-877-562-6467

⦁ EHN Crisis Hotline Specialists are qualified Mental Health Professionals and have, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in the health and social services field.  Supervisors are available 24/7 for additional support as needed. Crisis Hotline Specialists are available to the public, 24/7/365.

⦁ Crisis Hotline Specialists initially provide verbal crisis resolution when they receive a call. Crisis Specialists are trained through their education and trainings to assist in verbal de-escalation and link them to local mental health resources such as Emergence Health Network’s Crisis Intake Unit and Extended Observation Unit or can contact authorities if needed.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

⦁ EHN is contracted with National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to take calls in the north to northwestern part of Texas. We also constitute as a roll over center for areas such as Austin and Dallas when their call volume reaches capacity and a crisis operator is not available to answer from the initial designated call center for that area. It is separated by area code, so we receive many of the rural calls to the Lifeline.

EHN Crisis and Emergency Services

1600 Montana Ave. 1st floor – Monday – Friday 8 am – 5pm

Crisis Intake and Assessments Free and Confidential Mental Health Screenings Referral to services

**

EHN Extended Observation Unit 1600 E. Yandell Street Ste. B24 hour, 7 day a week Crisis Intake Unit 11-bed facility.

Up to 48 hours of observation and stabilization from trained mental health professionals

Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA) offered by EHN

MHFA training is FREE and teaches individuals to identify and respond to a person who is experiencing a mental health crisis.  They learn how to help stabilize a person in crisis until they can connect them with the appropriate clinical training.

Think of it as being trained in CPR, to help a person having a heart attack – until paramedics can arrive.

Warning Signs:

-Inability to cope with daily tasks

-Rapid mood swings

-Increased agitation

-Displays of abusive behavior

-Isolation

Helpful Tips:

Be a support system.

Listen to their story and let them know you care.

Ask directly about suicide, calmly and without judgement.

Let them know their life matters to you.  That one conversation could save a life.

Reach out for professional help and don’t be afraid to talk about what is going on. This helps reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

Encourage the individual to talk with a professional and never be afraid to call 911 if the person is at eminent risk. It is better to be safe than lose another person to suicide.

If you are struggling: Don’t wait for someone to reach out.  Seek mental health treatment; strength comes in asking for help.  Treat yourself like you would treat someone else who needs your help.

Thanks to a partnership between EHN’s Veterans One Stop Center, El Paso Community College and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission several El Paso area veterans or their qualifying dependent recently completed a free, 60-hour course where they learned how to build and operate their own computer, then are able to call it their own.

“We are so proud to be a part of this initiative. Computer technology is priceless in our day and age, so the fact that these veterans not only learned how to build a computer, but also learned the ‘ins and outs’ of operating that computer is such a valuable tool for these individuals,” said Noe Vargas, EHN Veterans Services Manager.

“What made this program even better is the participants were able to keep the computer and have it for their personal use.”

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission provided the funding for the three week course offered by EPCC as Computer Hardware, Employability Skills Training.

“We want to thank everyone involved in this program because these are skills that can be used out in the workforce, and we also want to recognize our veterans who committed to investing in their future,” added Vargas.

Participants received a Certificate of Completion from EPCC and displayed their newly-constructed computers at a ceremony held Friday afternoon.

Emergence Health Network (EHN) has partnered with Centro San Vicente (CSV)to co-locate behavioral and primary healthcare.

“This is a unique concept that provides comprehensive care to help improve the quality of services and access to primary healthcare for our EHN consumers,” said Kristi Daugherty, CEO Emergence Health Network.

EHN is the Local Mental Health Authority and through its 18 service locations, provides a wide array of programs for individual in El Paso County with a mental health diagnosis and intellectual/developmental disability.

“The partnership between our two community centers makes sense. We both play an important role in the wellness of our community. EHN serves the mental health needs of our residents, but it’s important that these individuals also have access to primary healthcare. With this approach, these services will now be offered under one roof at a single site,” said Dr. Jose Luna, CEO Centro San Vicente.

Centro San Vicente is a Federally Qualified Health Center and operates three healthcare clinics in the El Paso area.

WHEN: Thursday, March 17, 2016

WHEN: 10:30 am – 11:30 am

WHERE: SV Wellness Center at EHN – 1600 Montana Ave. First Floor