Town Talk on Mental Health Aims to Bring Hope

If you're experiencing a crisis, or if you want to know how to help someone who is, take 90 minutes on Thursday to attend a 10 a.m. Town Talk hosted by the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA) at Farmington Hills City Hall.

Mary Griffiths, OCCMHA director of planning and community services, said the Auburn Hills-based agency has done these kinds of presentations "forever," on a variety of topics, depending on what's happening with agency funding and in local communities. In this case, she said, to a spike in mental health commitments reported by Hills Police and in suicide threats and attempts, particularly among teens.

"Right now with health care reform, the economy and the budget, there's a lot of concern about how people can get mental health services," she said.

Oakland County Commissioner Jim Nash, who represents Farmington Hills, said Community Mental Health is a valuable resource for local residents, whether or not their insurance covers treatment. He said the Town Talk is a great way for local residents to learn about the system and how they can access the services.

"They really offer a tremendous amount of help to citizens," he said. "All of their providers are just great."

The agency works with a network of providers who serve adults with serious mental illnesses, children with serious emotional disturbances and people of all ages with developmental disabilities.

"We provide a full range of services," Griffiths said. "Common Ground is our door to the community. They do assessments over the phone and refer people to the appropriate service provider."

Common Ground's crisis line serves more than 40,000 people every year, who don't just call in with mental health issues. Griffiths said the agency fields requests for help from people experiencing home foreclosure, domestic violence, health care issues—"you name it."

"There's been a steady increase in those calls for services," she said, adding many of the calls seem related to the economy. "As people lose their homes and move to other communities, their children have to move to different schools, and they lose contact with friends. Parents lose support of their neighborhood ... It impacts the natural supports that are out there for all of us."

Losing a home or a job can be frightening and depressing, Griffiths said. "Lots of people own that, and see it as a judgment about their worth."

OCCMHA Executive Director Jeff Brown will lead the Town Talk, which will also provide an opportunity for the agency to hear from the community about what's working, what's not working and where gaps in service exist, Griffiths said.

It may also help with gaps in understanding about mental illness.

"We find people don't understand that mental illness is treatable," she said. "Part of this is bringing hope to people."

Admission to the Town Talk is free; light refreshments will be served. For information, call 248-858-0929.

This article is part of an occasional series about recent efforts by police, city and school district officials and concerned residents to help teens and adults affected by depression. Additional articles are listed under "See More on Patch."