Behavioral Health

On Thursday, September 20, the steps of the State Capitol will be crowded with children and adults working to raise awareness about a cause that has become increasingly distressing in recent years: youth suicide prevention.

The statistics speak for themselves: An estimated 3,500 adolescents attempt suicide every day. It ranks third as the overall cause of deaths in young people (nationally and in Louisiana). Ninety percent of teenagers who die by suicide have a mental health problem, usually depression, substance abuse or both.

Louisiana is now making it easier for citizens in need of mental health counseling to find those services. A multimedia advertising campaign launching this week promotes a toll-free telephone number that people can call to receive help.

The housing crisis in New Orleans continues to take its toll. Not only are those who are searching for housing having to deal with stress and other mental health concerns, mental health experts with the Department of Health and Hospital’s Louisiana Spirit program are finding that those who provide housing are dealing with similar emotional issues.

With the onset of hurricane season, the Department of Health and Hospitals is reminding citizens that free counseling services are available to them through the Office of Mental Health’s Louisiana Spirit Program.

Louisiana Spirit, a program through the Department of Health and Hospitals – Office of Mental Health, is collaborating with the Louisiana Affordable Housing Management Association (LAHMA) to provide Stress Management programs for LAHMA’s membership at locations statewide during the month of June. Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, owners, managers and site maintenance employees have worked non-stop to accommodate their available housing resources to the post-hurricane housing needs of Louisiana residents.

Louisiana workers are reporting their stress levels are higher than ever as they face many personal and work-related challenges in the struggle to rebuild their lives and the devastated areas around them. Stress takes an emotional and physical toll on all individuals, and is one of the leading causes of doctor visits.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – Louisiana Section has announced a new program designed to address poor birth outcomes in Louisiana. The Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral, and Treatment (SBIRT) program hopes to reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use during pregnancy. The program also screens and provides appropriate referral for domestic violence and depression in pregnancy.

Louisiana Spirit, a crisis counseling program for hurricane recovery operated through the Department of Health and Hospitals – Office of Mental Health, was recently honored by the 2007 Telly Awards for the production of a first responders’ video called “Brothers Keeper.” The video won the Telly Award in the Film/Video category for Non-Broadcast Productions for Health and Wellness.

In response to the shortage of psychiatric facilities since Hurricane Katrina, Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System recently added a new residential unit at the Greenwell Springs Campus. This unit has 12 new beds for adult males, and once renovations are complete, 12 beds for adult females will be added.