For All Seasons, Inc.

Melissa’s Story –A Message Of Hope In The Face Of Depression And Suicide

December 18, 2020 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

Melissa decided that it is time to share her story. She hopes by opening up and by paying it forward she will help others to understand that no matter the challenges you face in your life, you can make it through. Reflecting on her past, she recognizes that difficult times can happen to anyone and that the stigma tied to homelessness, depression, and addiction needs to be confronted.

Suffering from depression since her twenties, at 26, Melissa felt unable to cope. She reflects, “Due to family difficulties, I attempted to take my own life.”

Melissa had been working in a doctor’s office and she took a large dose of pills. As she explains, it was more of a cry for help and not knowing where to turn. She was fortunate to make it through this dark period, but other challenges, which she never anticipated, lay ahead.

Years later, Melissa married and she and her husband moved to the Eastern Shore. They were both college-educated and ready to build their life together. They were excited when Melissa became pregnant. Since her husband had a good job as a mechanical engineer, they decided that she would stay home to raise their daughter. Unfortunately, Melissa’s husband needed to have surgery. The medication he was prescribed after the surgery led him to have a pain killer addiction that then led to heroin addiction. Over time, he lost his job, and Melissa, who was working again, had to leave her place of employment because her daughter couldn’t be home alone with her husband. As challenges escalated, Melissa and her daughter became homeless.

“I don’t think that people understand that it can happen to anyone. My husband and I are both college-educated, both from middle-class families, and this is just an insidious problem that I didn’t know about until it got really bad,” she explains.

Thankfully, Melissa had been keeping track of her mental health. When she was pregnant, she was referred to a therapist at For All Seasons and maintained her relationship with her therapist through these extremely difficult years. “Being able to have that safe space to be able to come and talk saved my life . . . At the scariest lowest point of my life, I was able to get through,” she adds.

When Melissa was asked, “What would you want to say to someone who has fallen on hard times?” She did not hesitate to answer, “You have to find something within yourself – even if only small things . . . to take that next step. If you don’t have a therapist, find a therapist. If you don’t have a therapist, find a friend. There is always someone. It is my experience that strangers show the greatest kindness. There is always someone out there. There are organizations out there, there are people out there that will always lend a hand.”

Melissa says that her connection with her therapist was what helped turn her life in a new direction. For her, it was this relationship and the kindness of strangers that not only helped her get through but strengthened her resolve to give back and to go back to school to become a social worker.

When asked what she would say to someone who feels as though life is not worth living and who contemplates ending their life, Melissa shares, “That emptiness that you have – there is someone who can talk to you, who can get you to someone where you do feel comfortable telling them about how you are feeling. You really aren’t alone. It may not be a parent or a friend or someone that you would naturally think would come to your aide – a lot of times they are not equipped.”

“But, there are people on the hotlines and websites. If you can get yourself to reach out just please reach out – there is help. There really is. It will be ok. Where you are now is not where you will always be.”

Melissa is now in her third year of her Masters of Social Work program. Her therapist has noticed how she wants to advocate for other people and has asked Melissa if she might consider working in macro social work policy. When asked what she may want to do in the coming years, she responds, “I am hoping in five years that I will have taken my life lessons and turned that into paying forward everything that was given to me. I volunteer at the shelter where we lived. All I can do is hope to keep paying forward the kindness that was given to me.”

For All Seasons operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-sectarian organization established in the Mid-Shore area to assist individuals, groups, and communities by providing trauma-certified Mental Health and Psychiatry Services, Rape Crisis Services including advocacy and crisis hotlines, and education and outreach to the community.

For All Seasons Debuts Video for “No Matter What . . . You Matter” Suicide Prevention Campaign

October 2, 2020 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

For All Seasons is debuting a new community video on Wednesday, October 7 at 7 p.m. as a Facebook Live event for its 2020 No Matter What . . . You Matter Suicide Prevention Campaign. BE A LIGHT, produced by local musician Ray Remesch, features frontline workers, For All Seasons staff and board members including Beth Anne Langrell and Pam Ortiz, as well as community members Kentavius Jones, Dave Hall, Amy Steward, EJ Osterle, Katie Bernstein Cox, Sarah Chapel, and Rabbi Peter Hyman.

Remesch is known by many for his weekly music videos produced for Christ Church Easton where he serves as Minister of Contemporary Worship and for his role as part-time music instructor for Tilghman Elementary School. He also teaches private music lessons at the Academy Art Museum and helps with the Museum’s Mini Masters program, is the concert manager for Chesapeake Music, and in his free time, manages his musical group – Front Porch Orchestra.

In addition to bringing hope to those suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts, the video’s goal is to raise $25,000 to cover the cost of 100 crisis appointments at For All Seasons in the coming months. Since March 1, 2020, over 650 new clients have come to For All Seasons for mental health and victim advocacy services. This is the highest increase the organization has seen in its nearly 35-year history. Those who wish to donate to For All Seasons crisis appointments can contribute during the BE A LIGHT event or through the agency website at http://forallseasonsinc.org/donate.

Photo: For All Seasons staff shares one of their “Be a Light” images as part of the No Matter What…You Matter suicide prevention campaign. From left to right, back row: Kathy Langrell, Client Services Supervisor and Omar Bolden, Client Services Specialist. From left to right, front row: Carly Burton, LCSW-C, Licensed Clinician; Beth Anne Langrell, CEO; and Jenell Sutton, Assistant Supervisor Client Services.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in the United States, one person dies by suicide every 13 minutes and in Maryland, over three times as many people died by suicide in Maryland in 2017 than in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents. It reports that suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 34, the 5th leading cause of death for people ages 35 to 44, the 4th leading cause of death for people ages 45 to 54, and is the 11th leading cause of death overall in Maryland. Difficulty of accessing the services of healthcare providers professionally trained to reduce suicide risk and the stigma of using behavioral health treatment have been attributed to people failing to seek mental health services before a suicide occurs.

Throughout October, For All Seasons is collaborating with local businesses to bring suicide awareness to the Mid-Shore and to share information about how to access mental health services on the Mid-Shore. The agency is delivering suicide prevention literature to stores and businesses who will then share the information with their customers. Additionally, local businesses have been invited to share messages of hope with the community through the For All Seasons Instagram and Facebook pages. Any business or organization that would like to participate in this social media campaign should reach out to Denae Spiering at dspiering@forallseasonsinc.org, 410-822-1018.

For All Seasons Gives Away 1,000 Backpacks Across Mid-Shore

September 11, 2020 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

Last week, For All Seasons gave away 1,000 backpacks (200 to each county) on the Mid-Shore. The outreach replaced the Block Party held at For All Seasons office in Easton last year, where neighborhood children received a backpack and school supplies while participating in a community event. Due to social distancing requirements this year, backpacks were distributed to the Neighborhood Service Center and Tilghman Area Youth Association in Talbot County, Kent County Social Action Committee for Racial Justice, Queen Anne’s County Public Schools, Caroline County Recreation and Parks, and Dorchester County Public Schools. These organizations then distributed the backpacks to children at risk in all five counties.

L-R: Royshonda Bolden and Denae Spiering of For All Seasons with Marilyn Neal and Alicia Parker of the Neighborhood Service Center in Easton.

Backpacks included a notebook, For All Seasons pencils, earbuds, and informational materials on mental health services in Spanish and English. For All Seasons also donated 1000 pencils to each county Board of Education. Sponsors of For All Seasons backpack project included Talbot County Department of Social Services, Queen Anne’s County Department of Social Services, Delmarva Fluid Power “The Hydraulic Center,” and Ewing Dietz Fountain and Kaludis, P.A.

For All Seasons provides therapy, advocacy, psychiatry, and education to Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne, and Talbot counties. The agency accepts all private insurances, medical assistance, and supports English and Spanish speaking individuals regardless of one’s ability to pay. For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center offers a 24-HR crisis hotline service, certified sexual assault victim advocates, same-day and ongoing counseling services, and hospital, law enforcement, and court accompaniment by request of the survivor. Contact 410.822.1018 or forallseasonsinc.org for further information.

Beth Anne Langrell of For All Seasons Appointed to Maryland Commission on Women

August 20, 2020 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

Beth Anne Langrell, CEO, For All Seasons, swearing-in for her appointment to the Maryland Commission on Women.

Beth Anne Langrell, CEO, For All Seasons, has been appointed to the Commission, serving a four-year term. The Maryland Commission for Women works with Maryland State Government to advance solutions and to expand social, political, and economic opportunities for all women. The Commission was established by the Maryland Legislature in 1971 with the mission of promoting the social, political, and economic equality of Maryland women. One of the goals of the Commission is to bring information to Maryland women and girls including publications about women’s and girls’ issues and their rights, events, organizations, legislation, and a community resources directory.

The Maryland Commission for Women will host the virtual Women’s Centennial Summit on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The Women’s Centennial Summit will focus both on women’s leadership and on commemorating the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Summit will feature prominent Maryland women leaders as speakers, as well as a streaming “Parade of Sheroes” who have participated in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the fight for racial equality. Registration is now open for the 2020 Women’s Centennial Virtual Summit at www.2020WomenSummit.org #2020WomenSummit (Twitter or Facebook).

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Helping Seniors in Isolation During COVID-19

July 21, 2020 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

Seniors are an especially vulnerable population during COVID-19, given their increased co-morbidities. They often feel stressed and anxious due to the increased risk of not only contracting COVID but also suffering more complications if they contract the virus. Some seniors may also be feeling increased sadness related to the isolation caused by the pandemic.

According to Mary Beth Brinsfield, MSN, CRNP-PMH, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at For All Seasons, “A common theme I hear from my older patients is how they miss seeing their families, particularly their grandchildren.”

Rob Sanchez, MD, a family practice physician specializing in geriatrics and hospice medicine, comments, “My senior patients have done pretty well, following the quarantine instructions and staying home.”

He adds that fear seems to be the worst thing facing seniors. He encourages patients to listen to less television and listen to more music. He comments, “I suggested that to a patient, and they called me to tell me how it helped them cope better.”

Dr. Sanchez also gives hope to his patients sharing that at some point that there will be a vaccine for coronavirus and that the medical community knows more about the virus now than they did in February and March.

His wife, Lynn Sanchez, a Mental Health Advocate who also works in her husband’s practice, echoes his sentiments about music, “Music can transport us. Seniors can listen to the music channels on cable television or their Alexa or Spotify. You may even ask a senior family member to dance outside with you.”

In a recent article, “Coronavirus and COVID-19: Caregiving for the Elderly,” by Alicia Arbaje, MD, MPH, Ph.D., who specializes in internal medicine and geriatrics at Johns Hopkins Medicine, Arbaje says, “Physical distancing doesn’t have to mean isolation or loneliness. We need to keep older adults safe, but also keep in mind that social isolation can have a negative impact on older people’s immunity and mental health.”

She encourages technology for helping seniors stay connected, showing them how to video chat with others using smartphones, laptops, or tablets and how to use apps on these devices to provide captions for adults with hearing challenges. She adds, “Encourage friends and family outside of your household to telephone, write notes or send cards to lift your loved one’s spirits.”

Brinsfield adds, “Planning drive-by visits, having grandchildren color pictures or write letters is an easy way to help seniors not feel as isolated and helps to keep them in communication with loved ones.”

She further explains that as neighbors and friends, we can do similar acts that can have a positive impact. Checking in on seniors to make sure they have their basic needs met will help to alleviate the anxiety of how they get food supplies (another stressor) or medications. She states, “Making or bringing them food, could also be a way to show they are cared about and not forgotten. Sending cards and notes of thoughts or humor are another way to assist in brightening their day, as well as making phone calls to them. Outside activity is also important for mental health. Inviting a senior to go for a walk or sit on the porch is an easy way for you and them to receive the mental health benefits of fresh air!”

Lynn Sanchez explains that seniors need to have purpose. She credits Erik Erikson’s theory on human development – engaging older adults to repurpose their life skills, and thus reapply wisdom to new areas of their lives. She suggests such activities as knitting comfort shawls, making face masks to protect against the virus, making an indoor terrarium, purchasing a mechanical pet, sorting old photos and talking about the stories that go with them (like their wedding day), and organizing old photos and recipes.

She shares that a nursing home took the shoes of its patients and put them in the lobby to help tell the stories of their lives. “Sharing the memories and the stories is important. Children can even write questions for their parents to answer.”

Dr. Arbaje asks family members to keep in mind that many older people, especially those living with chronic illness, also have important relationships with their caregivers. She states, “To help them stay in touch, ask their doctors’ offices if they offer telemedicine, which enables doctors and patients to communicate over video, email or other means rather than face-to-face.”

“As we enter Phase 2, we are eager to bring patients back into the office. They appreciate being able to come in and see us. It is great for them to have some type of contact again,” Dr. Sanchez adds.

Lynn Sanchez comments, “Because all of our patients come in masked, we are realizing how important a smile is. We are having to learn all sorts of new non-verbal communication.”

Medical providers remind us that it is also important to note that at any time, if there is concern that a seniors’ mental health is posing a safety risk, 911 should be called.

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For All Seasons Grows Next Generation of Social Workers through Internship Program

July 9, 2020 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

L-R: For All Seasons interns Amy Bennett and Brooke Christensen. Absent from the photo are interns Edwin Hernandez-Martinez, Jen Friedman, Hayley Hornfeck, Sandra Kidd, Lisa Petroske, and Kim Hurlock.

For All Seasons has expanded its intern program to include a variety of high schools, colleges and universities. Undergraduate and graduate schools utilize For All Seasons for students who need clinical experiences in social work to meet the requirements of their programs. These hands-on experiences are preparing the next generation of social workers. This spring the agency has had eight interns: Amy Bennett, Brooke Christensen, Edwin Hernandez-Martinez, Jen Friedman, Hayley Hornfeck, Sandra Kidd, Lisa Petroske, and Kim Hurlock.

Beth Anne Langrell, CEO of For All Seasons, comments, “Being able to create a space for learning for our local high school, undergraduate or graduate students is such an important part of our role in the community. Not only do we get to be a part shaping a young professional’s experience, we also have created a pathway to hiring our graduate student interns at the agency once their degrees are complete. Of our graduate interns, 85 percent remain with us as full-time employees, which is so exciting for our team and the clients who we serve.”

Edwin Hernandez-Martinez, who is working on a bachelor’s degree in social work and psychology at Salisbury University, comments, “I have had a great experience working on the records management side of the agency and on the intake process. This has allowed me to deal with all ages at their most vulnerable times. Hearing different people’s stories has helped me interconnect with my textbook work from school. I have also learned a lot about listening skills. By listening on bilingual calls for the Spanish-speaking population, I have been able to learn about the issues they are facing in their community.”

Two of the interns, Amy Bennett and Brooke Christensen, are working on their graduate degrees and found that the agency offered a unique learning perspective for their programs. Bennett, who is finishing her master’s degree in social work at Liberty University, states, “My internship has been formative, enlightening, and invaluable as I grow into an identity as a clinical mental health counselor. I have also been privileged to see firsthand how the different threads at For All Seasons blend to create a beautiful tapestry of services. This is a group of people who collectively and individually have incredible hearts for the community.”

Brooke Christensen, A Master’s of Divinity Degree student at Wesley Theological Seminary, adds, “I have been able to get a wide lens look at large nonprofit serving different populations on the Mid Shore – form learning about human trafficking, to running the Latina Support Group, to writing grants – my experiences have been fascinating. I have been especially impressed by the culture of gratitude at For All Seasons, which is so important in an agency that has multiple offices serving five counties on the Mid Shore. Everyone is valued and included here.”

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For All Seasons Debuts New Therapeutic Coloring Book

June 9, 2020 by For All Seasons, Inc. 1 Comment

Jane Gordon, LCPAT, ATR-BC, Art Therapist and co-author of “Color Me Closer”

Art therapist Jane Gordon, in collaboration with Dr. Lark Eshelman, has created a unique therapeutic coloring book, “Color Me Closer,” designed for people to color in pairs. This coloring book, produced and funded by For All Seasons, is a resource for supporting children who have experienced trauma, or for anyone who wants to improve relationships or just relax and have fun together.

The coloring book began its journey after Gordon talked to Beth Anne Langrell, CEO of For All Seasons, about her idea for helping clients at For All Seasons where she works. Langrell comments, “I saw the power of what the pages could do for people.”

Gordon comments, “I am passionate about what I do with art therapy. I wanted to produce something that could support people with their mental health. Coloring books are all the rage now. Creating is a nice activity for people to do together and inspires and causes connection.”

Each page of the coloring book has a theme. As the coloring book progresses, the pictures evolve from individual images to images that connect to each other and from inanimate objects to animate objects. It can be used in guided therapy, or participants can select an image to address issues. The spiral-bound format has perforated pages so that pages can be torn out and saved. You can also add elements or notes to the pictures in the book.

A 12-year-old client from For All Seasons who lost a parent commented, “It’s so much fun! I love coloring with my mom, my pop-pop, and my mom-mom. It makes me feel happy.”

Caroline Eglseder, LMSW, who works at For All Seasons, states, “’Color Me Closer’ is a rapport-building tool for working with children of any age. It supports mindfulness, building healthy coping skills, and increasing emotional regulation.”

A For All Seasons’ client and mother of three adds, “I keep the book in the back of my car so it’s handy for appointments or for the kids where I work. Honestly, it gives me a warm feeling seeing the kids color together and knowing I always have something fun and relaxing for them to do.”

Gordon, who is a board-certified, licensed art therapist with a career spanning 35 years, has a wide variety of experience working with traumatized children and adults in numerous settings. Her long-standing relationship with For All Seasons goes back over 27 years, and through the agency, she has connected with hundreds of families and children to provide mental health support.

“Anyone can enjoy using the coloring book. I am excited to see how enthusiastically people are responding to it. Children have used it on snow days, adults have colored at wine parties, and mothers and daughters have colored together. I am doing it with my 25-year-old daughter,” she adds.

“Initially, I thought I would use it as a workbook, but it became fascinating to see what picture clients chose to do. There is diagnostic information there. It shows where they are. By creating art together, a therapeutic alliance can be formed. The power of connection is visual, tangible evidence that something has happened. It’s so wonderful to have this as a tool for healing.”

Lark Eshleman, MLS, MS, Ph.D., Trauma Expert and co-author of “Color Me Closer”

Dr. Eshleman has a long-standing passion for children and healthy development, spanning back to her early days as an elementary school librarian. After years as a school principal, as a trauma therapist, and teaching and sharing her work internationally, she wrote “Becoming a Family: Promoting Healthy Attachments with Your Adopted Child,” and developed programs and therapeutic treatment models for children whose early years are marked by violence or other traumatic breaks in attachment. Her programs are designed for use in schools, professional settings, and for families. “Color Me Closer” represents her exciting collaboration with art therapist and friend, Jane Gordon, and their mutual zeal for improving attachment and trauma for children.

“As an attachment specialist I have seen the benefits of structured parallel play to bring parent and child together in a therapy setting. But, I knew there was something much stronger that could happen if families were given a structured method of continuing their healing at home. We also have known for a while that there is a great calming benefit to coloring,” states Dr. Eshleman.

“Together we have discovered so many more ways that ‘Color Me Closer’ is able to help children — for example, my cancer surgeon wants to use it to help her patients with young children to stay connected through an emotionally difficult time. It’s so fun to create with Jane, who is a talented art therapist, and such a gift to be able to help children and families heal.”

In looking to the future, Langrell comments, “I hope the coloring book can go to places where people are experiencing trauma or disasters – places that need a bright light where things are dark.”

The cost of the coloring book is $10, plus $5 for shipping for one book. Each additional book to the same address can be shipped for $1 apiece. Coloring books may be purchased on the For All Seasons website forallseasonsinc.org.

On June 10 at noon, For All Seasons will hold a Book Launch on Facebook and Instagram. The event will include a coloring book giveaway.

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For All Seasons Offers Free Webinar on Strategies to Support the Mental Health

May 22, 2020 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

On Friday, May 29 at noon, For All Seasons CEO, Beth Anne Langrell, and Chief Clinical Officer, Lesa Lee, present a Facebook Live business webinar titled “Leading and Living Through Uncertainty: Strategies to Support the Mental Health of You and Your Employees.” The presentation will be moderated by Cassandra Vanhooser, Director of Talbot County Department of Tourism and Economic Development.

As businesses face the challenges of reopening, waiting to reopen, and/or reconfiguring during COVID-19, there are several concerns employers and employees may be facing. Everyone is experiencing varying degrees of adjustment to a changing work landscape. Businesses may be finding a wide range of anxiety levels among staff. Beth Anne Langrell explains, “It’s more important now than ever to lead with mental health in mind.”

Topics will include self-care while caring for others, supportive/active listening, navigating conversations and opinions with employees and customers, dealing with uncertainty and isolation, managing emotional fatigue, and connecting with mental health resources.

From left, Beth Anne Langrell, CEO, For All Seasons and Lesa Lee, Chief Clinical Officer, For All Seasons.

Beth Anne Langrell and Lesa Lee, are both certified as Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead™ facilitators. According to Brown, “Leadership is about the willingness to step up, put yourself out there, and lean into courage.” Business owners, at this moment in time, are required to exhibit strength in the face of adversity. Langrell and Lee promote digging deep, taking a seat as we listen to others, all while providing the space for ourselves and others to have courageous conversations.

This presentation is dedicated to our local businesses who are there for our community in so many ways. Our for-profit and non-profit businesses are a steady source of support to one another throughout the year. It is through the generosity of local businesses that For All Seasons has increased mental health crisis appointments as well as awareness campaigns for suicide and sexual assault.

Register at http://living-leading.eventbrite.com. For more information contact dspiering@forallseasonsinc.org or call 410.822.1018. This is virtual presentation is free and open to the public and presented in partnership with the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services.

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The New Crisis for COVID-19 – Mental Health and Substance Use Reoccurrence

May 21, 2020 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

While we might be planning to resume some aspects of our lives this coming week as the Governor’s stay-at-home order is lifted, there is an insidious crisis brewing in our communities. The isolation created by COVID-19 has created the perfect storm in mental health – growing desperation has increased suicide rates and the recurrence of substance use disorders in our communities. While the reasons are complex, each of us can play a part in the solutions.

For the last five years, For All Seasons counselors have been seeing clients at the Tilghman United Methodist Church through a program called “Healthy Tilghman.” The program provides healthy mind, body, and spirit outreach in the Tilghman community focusing on a peer support network in the community, as well as counseling and community education. Michael Flaherty, Ph.D., a psychologist who practices in Pennsylvania and has national expertise in addiction and mental health issues, helped found “Healthy Tilghman” and knows his community and the difficulties it is facing. He comments, “Under the stress of confinement, the world becomes smaller and small things become big things, and sensitivity becomes higher. This can mean that small environments can make people act out in greater ways.”

Flaherty adds, “Nationally, there has been a 7 to 10 percent increase in recurrences of substance use disorders since COVID-19. While there have not been any overdose deaths yet in Talbot County, there have been overdoses. Statistics show that 20 percent of overdose deaths are suicide-related. With fragile people, it is going to happen. We need a higher degree of patience and understanding during this time.”

To date, Healthy Tilghman has had great success reaching the Bay Hundred community to provide support for mental health issues and addiction. Community volunteers have been the eyes and ears of the community, connecting people to necessary resources, and people are using telehealth services more and more to receive therapy and support.

“Although we are making strides, people are still experiencing anxiety and depression during this crisis and using substances for coping. Some of the reoccurrences of the illness are because of confinement and not having support. People are finding it hard to cope,” Flaherty comments, adding, “A lot of people didn’t realize they had such a dependency on substances and are finding that their dependency is greater during this time.”

Flaherty says that some signs and symptoms of someone contemplating suicide, may include making plans to commit suicide by giving things away or finalizing a will; becoming increasingly withdrawn; experiencing increasing despair and a sense of hopelessness; sleep disorders and mood swings; and a recurrence of substance abuse with drinking and drugging. Family members are often the first-line responders in these situations. Connecting people to family peer support specialists or peer support specialists can make the real difference in someone getting the help they need.

Valerie Albee, founder of Mariah’s Mission, and a family peer support specialist in Easton has been on the frontline helping families cope with the challenges of substance use disorder both virtually and in-person while social distancing. She comments, “These are trying times for many. I offer as much hope as I can for people, but it is a complicated issue and there is difficulty right now getting people timely treatment.”

She explains that while there is now a proliferation of online 12-Step meetings through virtual technology, the isolation created by COVID-19 has affected families with addictions and mental health challenges. Stress, fear, joblessness, and other factors have contributed to increases in relapses both fatal and non-fatal. She states, “These individuals and their families are not strong enough to deal with this crisis by themselves, and they have immediate needs. Managing household resources and maintaining the quality of life for a loved one suffering from a substance use or mental health disorder is very challenging.”

Both Flaherty and Albee agree that individual and Family Peer Support Specialists can be vital in assisting people in crisis. Family Support Specialists like Albee have had training and lived through personal experience dealing with a loved one in crisis. Peer Support Specialists have personally lived with substance use challenges and found recovery.

Flaherty says that the question to pose to the person in crisis is, “What will it take to get you to connect to services?” He states that people should keep encouraging a family member/friend to make the call to receive help, and if the person is unable to care for themselves, they should call one of the crisis hotlines on behalf of the person. Their personal experience, along with extensive training can provide vital help.

Beth Anne Langrell, CEO of For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center, adds, “We want family members and friends to know that they don’t have to solve the problem, but they can help connect people to community resources. For All Seasons is expanding its messaging around suicide during Mental Health Awareness Month. By following the steps: Ask how a friend is doing, Listen to what they have to say, and Share that you care about them and you know where to find help, family members and friends can be the crucial first step to getting help.”

She adds, “The mental health community has strengthened the delivery of services and is improving access to information, which is having a positive impact through this crisis. The list we have compiled of resources can be a lifesaver when faced with any of these crises.”

List of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Resources

Mid Shore Behavioral Health

midshorebehavioralhealth.org

Eastern Shore Crisis Response Services

1-888-407-8018

Life Crisis Hotline 410-749-4357

Corsica River Mental Health Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

410-745-8028 or 410-758-2211

crmhsinc.com/index.html

Eastern Shore Psychological Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

410-822-5007

espsmd.com

Shore Behavioral Health at UMM Shore Regional Health

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

410-822-1000 x5452

umshoreregional.org/programs/behavioral/services/shore-behavioral-health-outpatient-services

Maryland Coalition of Families

mdcoalition.org

Mid Shore Intergroup (For Zoom meetings)

www.midshoreintergroup.org/meetings

East of the Bay NA

eastofthebayna.org

Al-Anon Eastern Shore

al-anon.org.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline

1-800-662-HELP (4357)

24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service

English / Spanish

Chesapeake Treatment Services

410.822.7150

www.chesapeaketreatmentservices.com

National Institute on Drug Abuse

www.drugabuse.gov/patients-families

Mid Shore Opioid Misuse Prevention Program (OMPP)

www.iwishiknewmidshore.org

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Chat online 24/7

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Maryland Crisis Hotline (211)

Dial 2-1-1, option 1

Text to 898211

Chat online 24/7

www.211md.org

The Trevor Project (LGBTQ crisis services)

1-866-488-7386

Text START to 678678

Chat online 24/7

www.thetrevorproject.org

National Crisis Textline

Text HOME to 741741

www.crisistextline.org

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Maryland Chapter

https://afsp.org/chapter/maryland

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

www.sprc.org

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COVID-19 Crisis Increases Use of Teletherapy and Telepsychiatry to Rural Counties

April 29, 2020 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

Dr. Bill Cerrato, Chief Medical Officer of For All Seasons

Although telehealth has been around for more than 20 years, approval by insurers may have slowed down the evolution of its prevalence in mental health services. COVID-19 has forced the issue to the forefront, however, and behavioral health providers are now offering expanded teletherapy and telepsychiatry services, most notably delivering services while patients remain in their homes. In the last month, For All Seasons staff has had to make these changes as well, expanding these options for its clients as more stringent self-quarantining and social distancing requirements have been put in place on the Mid Shore.

Telehealth is the process of providing health care from a distance through technology, often using videoconferencing. Telepsychiatry, a subset of telehealth, can mirror the range of on-site services including psychiatric evaluations, teletherapy (individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy), patient education, and medication management. Traditionally, patients had to come to a qualified health center and interface with a computer to see their teleprovider who was based elsewhere. COVID19 has propelled telehealth services into the home.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, while some people may be reluctant or feel awkward talking to a person on a screen, experience shows that most people are comfortable with it. They add that some people may be more relaxed and willing to open up from the comfort of their home or a convenient local facility. It may even be successful in reducing the barrier of stigma for people seeking services.

Dr. Bill Cerrato, Chief Medical Officer at For All Seasons, comments, “In child and adolescent psychiatry, where it can be hard to find subspecialists, telehealth will enable us to bridge that gap in our rural area.”

The Rural Maryland Council has awarded For All Seasons funding to cover the costs for onboarding a new Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and purchasing equipment that will allow the agency to offer telepsychiatry in all six of its satellite offices.

Dr. Cerrato adds, “Through partnering with Iris Telehealth, a telepsychiatry provider group, the addition of a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner has already helped us supplement our staff to better serve the growing mental health needs on the Shore.”

Through the COVID-19 crisis, the number of patients using teletherapy and telepsychiatry at For All Seasons has grown from 4 percent from the fall of 2019 to 55 percent today, with the majority of staff now utilizing this platform to deliver care.

Dr. Cerrato, who is also the Medical Director at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, notes that since For All Seasons began its traditional on-site telehealth services satisfaction has been high.

He comments, “When patients are home, they are much more relaxed. We find that kids are especially more comfortable at home. They want to show us their pets or a special toy. We also find that with new patients, it is easier to build rapport, and we have fewer patients not showing up for their appointments when we use telehealth to deliver care where they feel most comfortable. Post COVID19, Telehealth regulations have allowed patients to remain in their homes, pushing satisfaction through the roof.”

According to the American Psychiatric Association, research has also shown that overall remote treatment experiences among all age groups have been positive and may help people with autism or severe anxiety disorders as well as patients with physical limitations. It has also shown that telepsychiatry has been found especially effective in the treatment of PTSD, depression, and ADHD. This treatment option has even been shown to reduce the need for trips to the emergency room, reduce delays in care, and can improve the continuity of care and follow-up.

Dr. Cerrato explains that doctors and therapists who really interact with the screen get the best results. He states, “If you do it right, it’s just like you are in the room with the patient. Providers who don’t engage with the screen don’t get as high a satisfaction rating.”

While Dr. Cerrato states most diagnoses are appropriate for teletherapy and telepsychiatry, there can be challenges dealing with psychotic and paranoid behaviors or patients with severe intellectual disabilities. In those cases, family members or loved ones can be helpful when attending the sessions along with the patients.

One of the most important elements of teletherapy and telepsychiatry is the platform that is used to deliver the service. The preferred HIPAA-compliant platform of For All Seasons is Doxy.me which provides a web address that the provider can email to the patient that is the same for each session. During the COVID-19 crisis, however, patients are allowed to use applications such as Facetime, Skype, Messenger on their phones or computers, and just the regular telephone so that care can continue to be provided. For All Seasons also remains steadfast in engaging the entire patient population, utilizing Skype for the group call feature so interpreters can join Spanish speakers.

For All Seasons hopes new Interagency Telehealth initiative will enable the agency’s psychiatrists and nurse practitioner in the Easton office to see patients via telehealth who are onsite at the other For All Seasons offices in Denton, Stevensville, Chestertown, and Cambridge, alleviating travel to Easton.

For Dr. Cerrato, the silver lining in this new treatment delivery is that it can increase access to care in rural areas like the Eastern Shore. He comments, “For All Seasons has always had parity as a priority and is moving this initiative forward.”

Beth Anne Langrell, CEO at For All Seasons, adds, “Dr. Cerrato brings a perspective for treating people in the here and now, but is also forward-thinking about our service delivery for the future. He brings continuity to our medical team and is helping us be a leader in behavioral health in the region.”

For further information, visit forallseasonsinc.org, visit For All Seasons Facebook page, or call 410-822-1018.

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