DBHIDS

Lived Experience: Suicide Prevention Awareness

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 20:44:00 +0000

By Hunter Robbins
Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services

September is National Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. This is a time to highlight the work being done to prevent suicide, spread awareness about helpful initiatives, and share resources within our communities. It is also a time to remember the importance of those with lived experience.

Lived experience as it pertains to suicide usually means one of two things: either you have lost someone to suicide (a survivor of suicide), or you have attempted suicide yourself and survived. Unfortunately, when we talk about suicide, those with lived experience are often left out of the conversation. Being a survivor of any traumatic experience is not easy. In 2018, there were 48,433 Americans who died by suicide, and a staggering 1.4 million who attempted suicide. To add to that, studies show that for every death by suicide, there are up to 135 people who can be affected by it. This means that in 2018, up to 8 million people could be considered to have lived experience.

Why is it important to highlight lived experience? Studies show that after an individual dies by suicide, there could be a significant increase of suicide risk for close friends and family. There is also evidence that shows individuals with at least one prior suicide attempt have a higher risk of attempting again than the general population. Those with lived experience not only have to carry the weight of their loss or previous attempt, but also have higher risk of dying by suicide themselves. If you know of someone who would qualify as having lived experience, I urge you to check in with them. Please listen without judgement and provide a safe space for them to share things that they wouldn’t typically share. Providing connection can lower suicide risk.

Those with lived experience have valuable voices that should be informing how we provide suicide care. Individuals who have attempted suicide and those who have lost a loved one know the behavioral health system better than most. They know the good and the bad. Their lived experience provides invaluable insight. Survivors should be offered places for them to inform the system and show what it means to care for someone struggling with thoughts of suicide. As behavioral health care providers and administrators, we should listen when they tell us what they need rather than force a solution that we think is best. Suicide care is a two-way street.

Talking about suicide loss or one’s own attempt is not easy, but it is necessary to change the stigmatizing culture that still exists. We must start to share our stories of recovery and connecting with those who have similar experiences. This will create safer communities. Communities where those with lived experience do not have to be fearful of how people will react to their stories, but instead be welcomed by resources and support. Suicide may be national public health crisis, but that does not have to be the case in Philadelphia. Please click here to read a lived experience story.

If you or a loved one is thinking about suicide, please do not hesitate to call the National Suicide Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) or text the Crisis Text Line (741-741). If you are within Philadelphia County and require crisis assistance, please call the Philadelphia Crisis Line (215-286-4420) or go to your nearest Crisis Response Center.

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Combating Social Isolation in Children During COVID-19

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 13:49:00 +0000

By Tamra Williams, Ph.D.
Deputy Chief Clinical Officer—Children’s Services
Community Behavioral Health
Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services

For children, one of the many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a decrease in opportunities to interact with their peers in traditional and important ways. Restrictions on face-to-face interactions with peers and playmates and more time spent indoors translate, for some children, into stress and frustration that affects their emotional and behavioral health.

From a developmental perspective, we know that play and peer interaction is important for young children. It helps with social skills, moral reasoning, and cognitive development. Moreover, children staying home 24/7 can add an additional layer of stress to parents, chipping away at their emotional reserves and ability to parent effectively. How can we combat the loss of playtime and the increased stress on parents?

Routines are important. School provides a consistent routine that is vital for most children. With many schools starting virtually, it will be important to create a consistent schedule for children while learning at home. Make new traditions for the routines that typically happen while preparing for the start of a school year. For example, think about what might be needed for successful online learning experiences when planning for back-to-school shopping with your child. Physical activity is also helpful; try to schedule a time for exercise or physical movement into your child’s daily routine.

It is also important to create frequent and varied opportunities for social experiences and activities. For example:

Schedule face-to-face play dates. If you do so and allow your school-age child to play with a peer, make sure to follow CDC guidelines: keep the child home if sick, use social distancing guidelines, limit touching of commonly used surfaces, wash hands, and have them wear masks.
Have your child play sports. The CDC recommends taking precautions based on risk, with the lowest risk being sports at home, alone, or with members of the same household and highest risk being full competition between teams from different geographic areas (e.g., outside county or state). The CDC notes that “the more people a participant interacts with, the closer the physical interaction, the more sharing of equipment there is by multiple players, and the longer the interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.” Therefore, aim for individual sports or sports played with family members and avoid sports with multiple players, physical or close contact, and shared equipment.
Make time for virtual connections. Use technology to connect with friends, family, and peers.
Incorporate fun, virtual learning experiences. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the National Park Foundation offer ways to connect with animals and park activities through online events, virtual tours, and live video.

You and your child can also get help from a mental health professional. If your child is struggling to understand the change in routine or cope with social isolation, there are many resources that help parents with developmentally appropriate talks and explanations about COVID-19. If you, as a parent, are overwhelmed by COVID-19-related stressors, there are also resources available to you. We encourage you to seek the help of a mental health professional if you or your child are experiencing any stress or loss that is having a significant negative impact on day-to-day functioning.

Resources for talking about COVID-19 with children:

“Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19,” from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
“Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019,” from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“Talking With Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks,” from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
“COVID-19 Health and Safety Guide,” from PA Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training (ASERT)
“Flu Story,” a children’s book from Autism Speaks

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Camp Program Benefits Kids with Behavioral Disabilities

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 14:03:00 +0000

By Hannah Anolik, DBHIDS Summer 2019 Intern

Between the ages of 7 and 11, I “lived 10 months for two” – meaning I was obsessed with summer camp. I lived the other 10 months of the year just for those two months at camp.

Seeing my summertime best friends every day and having (what we thought of as) no rules and pure fun always felt like an escape from reality. Now, a decade or so later, I realize it was during those carefree, hot, summer days that I developed into who I am today and learning about myself.

Summer camp may just seem like a way to get kids out of the house, but it is much more than that.

This year, I interned for DBHIDS with the Madeline Moore Summer Camp Grant. The grant allows children with behavioral disabilities to attend camps all throughout Philadelphia with necessary staff there to ensure they are treated the same as everyone else while being treated appropriately for their needs.

By attending these camps, children find a safe and comfortable environment where they can make friends and not feel different from those around them. My internship allowed be the incredible opportunity to see children throughout Philadelphia creating bonds with friends, contributing to their community, learning about new talents and skills, and enjoying themselves.

Early in July, I visited ACE Summer Camp in Northwest Philadelphia, where I was able to talk with the children about my backgrounds and learn about them and their aspirations. As a rising senior at The College of New Jersey studying public health, I loved explaining my field of study – a field most of them had never heard of. Many went on to express an interest in studying public health. One girl even said her dream was to open her own hospital.

Hearing so many high aspirations in a variety of paths was so promising. It filled me with hope. I assured the children to stay true to who they are, follow their dreams, and work hard.

Being able to give back to the community and see children across Philadelphia have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn and grow at camp was a tremendous experience. I’m honored and to have been a part of DBHIDS with the Madeline Moore Summer Camp grant.

Learn more about the Madeline Moore Summer Camp Grant.

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‘I AM…’: Speaker works to empower Philly preteens, July 2019

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 14:05:00 +0000

By Donovan Forrest, DBHIDS Summer 2019 Intern

Young Philadelphia boys and girls screamed their positive messages about themselves for all to hear when Donovan Forrest brought his message to them this month at Ace Camp in West Philadelphia. Ace Camp participates with the Madeline Moore Summer Camp Grant program offered by DBHIDS.

Forrest, executive director of DonCARES of Philadelphia, worked with DBHIDS Operations/Fiscal (OpsFis) unit this summer through the Mayor’s Internship Program. His activities included visits to local area summer camps that partner with the grant program.

Forrest was asked to speak to 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds July 1 at the summer program hosted at Martha Washington Elementary School, 766 N. 44th St. in the Belmont neighborhood of West Philadelphia.

After connecting with the children via his own upbringing as a product of the Philadelphia School System and a North Philadelphia native, Forrest asked each child to write “I AM” on a sheet of paper, along with something positive about themselves.

He circled the room and saw numerous positive traits on the papers: powerful, beautiful, athletic, and smart.
Once they wrote on the sheets, decorated, and shared with each other, Forrest had one more expectation.
He asked the students to stand shoulder to shoulder and hold their papers to the sky.

“Now on the count of three, I want everyone at home, in your neighborhood, and in New Jersey to hear what you are,” he exclaimed, getting a powerful response from those attending.

Forrest said he knows what he said to the students about perseverance may not stick eight years from now, but that he wholeheartedly believes children are the equivalent of all the times caring adults make them smile and all the moments that make them dance.

The OpsFis unit hosts summer interns each year. We value the enthusiasm, commitment and contribution they bring as demonstrated by Donovan’s passion to encourage this group of campers.

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October 2018

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 14:11:00 +0000

By Ava Ashley, Manager,

DBHIDS Trauma Unit

Cabrini University held its 8th annual Domestic Violence symposium that year and the theme was “Trauma and Trafficking”. This annual symposium is sponsored by the Barbara and John Jordan Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education, whose purpose is to promote social change through professional development, training, education, and research to end domestic violence and support children exposed to trauma. The Barbara and John Jordan Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education at Cabrini University. Visit the Barbara and John Jordan Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education.

THE INTERSECTION OF TRAUMA AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
This symposium and its focus on Trauma and Trafficking illustrates the intersectionality between women who experienced commercial sexual exploitation and the use of violence and control to maintain victimization. There were local and regional expert panelists who included law enforcement, clinical, medical, school district and immigrant and advocacy providers to examine the issues; and the keynote speaker was, Barbara Amaya, a survivor, speaker, author and award-winning advocate in the movement to end human trafficking and all violence. Ms. Amaya shared with students, faculty and others her experiences as a survivor. She pointed out to the audience that anyone who works directly with survivors needs to understand how critical violence, control, and trauma bonds make it difficult to escape these destructive relationships. She stressed the following:

Time and trust are required to break the trauma bond
Victims never view themselves as being trafficked
Providers must ask the right questions that are trauma informed and offer choices
Survivor to survivor connections and voices offer hope and empowerment

NOBODY’S GIRL BY BARBARA AMAYA
How violence, control and false love are used to exploit women
Nobody’s Girl, by Barbara Amaya, is a memoir of her lost innocence at age 12, her life story in the modern-day slave, and her transformation to an advocate for survivors of human trafficking and violence against women. She offers hope and a glimpse into the ‘the life” and most importantly how she slowly found the will to live and ultimately leave “the life”. This memoir also offers tangible prescriptive advice for law enforcement, medical personnel, teachers, counselors, and parents/care givers can recognize the red flags if you suspect someone is the victim of human trafficking. BarbaraAmaya.com

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21st Annual “Making a Difference” Recognition Dinner

castanon20luis22 — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 15:35:00 +0000

The Mayor’s Commission on Addiction and Recovery, in conjunction with DBHIDS, sponsored the 21st annual “Making a Difference” Recognition Dinner on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. The purpose of the event was to publicly acknowledge the tireless efforts of organizations and individuals who work or volunteer to tackle substance use challenges in Philadelphia.

The Mayor’s Commission on Addiction and Recovery is lead by Chairperson James P. Baker Jr., President and CEO of Baker & Company, LLC. Judith Porter, Ph.D., professor emeritus of sociology at Bryn Mawr College, is vice chairperson. Other members of the commission are Jeannine L. Lisitski, Darlene V. Miller, George D. Mosee, Jr., Pascal Scoles, James Shepard, M.D., and Minister Glenn Wilson.

The 2018 honorees were:

Treatment Provider: Akia Feggans (Clinical Program Director, Philadelphia Fight TREE Intensive Outpatient Program).
Community Organization: Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Deliverance Ministry
Community Person: Thomas J. Nestel III (Chief, SEPTA Transit Police)
Service Innovation: Curtis Watkins (Chief of Adult Services, Defenders Association of Philadelphia)
Special Recognition: Elvis Rosado (Education and Community Outreach Coordinator, Prevention Point Philadelphia)

NBC10 reporter Harry Hairston served as the event emcee and Philadelphia Mayor James F. Kenney delivered remarks.

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DBHIDS Offers Help to Our Community on National Depression Screening Day

Fri, 06 Oct 2017 14:33:00 +0000

By David T. Jones, Commissioner, DBHIDS

According to Mental Health America, one of the nation’s leading community-based nonprofits dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness, one in five adults have a mental health condition — that’s more than 40 million Americans, or the populations of New York and Florida combined.

One of the most prevalent mental health conditions is depression, a disease of the mind that, if untreated, can have severe or even fatal effects on those who live with it, the people who know and love them, and even innocent strangers. That’s why we were pleased to once again participate in the 2017 National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) on Thursday, October 5. Held each October during Mental Illness Awareness Week, NDSD features of variety of events and awareness activities such as free depression screening. Throughout the day, DBHIDS staff and our partners were stationed in nearly 20 sites across the city offering people an opportunity to get a “check-up from the neck up” because we wholeheartedly believe that a person’s mental health is just as important as their physical health. In all, more than 100 people received a free screening through our NDSD event, getting access to services and information to help assess the state of their mental health.

This work is so important because mental health conditions are not just common, they are treatable and recovery is possible when the proper supports and resources are made available.

In today’s world, where news of natural disasters and acts of violence are capturing the headlines, it’s very likely that people are experiencing moments of sadness. However, if feelings of sadness persist for extended periods of time, it could be worthwhile to seek support or encourage someone you know to do so.

Signs and symptoms of depression

Sad mood
Preoccupation with failures or inadequacies and a loss of self-esteem
Feelings of uselessness, hopelessness, excessive guilt
Slowed thinking, forgetfulness, difficulty in concentrating and in making decisions
Loss of interest in work, hobbies, people
Social isolation
Agitation/Irritability
Changes in appetite or weight (eating too little or too much)
Changes in sleep (sleeping too little or too much)
Suicidal thoughts

We’ve found that one of the primary reasons people don’t seek help is because of the stigma associated with mental health conditions. Depression isn’t a sign of weakness or indication that something is wrong with a person. Just like a person who has a health challenge such as heart disease or high blood pressure, depression is a medical condition that can be treated, offering much-needed relief to those who offer suffer in silence.

If you were unable to receive a screening as part of National Depression Screening Day, you can always visit our HealthyMindsPhilly.com for access to free, online anonymous screening 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And, if you or someone you know may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Talk Line at 800-273-8255 (TALK). The City of Philadelphia also has a general crisis line for those in need — 215-685-6440.

Do not be afraid to acknowledge that you may be dealing with depression. The strongest people are the ones who can admit when they need help.

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Philadelphians Share Their Stories About How the ACA Has Helped Them

Thu, 21 Sep 2017 15:10:00 +0000

By Josh Kruger

Department of Public Health, Office of the Mayor

More than 200,000 Philadelphians benefit from the Affordable Care Act — more than 160,000 through the Medicaid expansion and about 60,000 through the ACA’s marketplace.

If the ACA is repealed, these people could all lose their health insurance and have no way to pay for medical care.

They’re not the only ones who’ll be affected, either. If Congress repeals the ACA, most adults and children in Philadelphia who have private healthcare coverage will lose protections the ACA provides. Protection like no-cost preventive care, coverage of preexisting conditions, and equal coverage of behavioral health issues like addiction.

The stakes are high for all of us.

We asked Philadelphians to share their stories. Here’s what a few of you had to say.

Hassan Freeman

“My youngest son was born with a rare liver disease known as biliary atresia. It’s a sickness where the liver progressively gets worse, ultimately leaving the person in need of a liver transplant. Were it not for the ACA preventing insurance companies from discriminating against those with preexisting conditions, our child would assuredly not be receiving the treatments. These treatments allow him to enjoy the life that all children deserve: growing up and being allowed to pursue what makes him happy.”

Audrey Ross

“Right after the election, my husband and I were sitting in a pediatric ER trying to wrap our heads around what he had just heard. A doctor told us our three-and-a-half-month-old baby Jacob’s upper left lung was overinflated, flattening his diaphragm and shifting his heart to the middle of his tiny body. He was placed on oxygen just so he could breathe. During that week, I didn’t care about the election result. I just wanted my little boy to live. Later, Jacob was diagnosed with an extremely rare lung disease and underwent surgery. Now, almost eight months after having a home apnea monitor on for months and another procedure, Jake is moving around like a normal 11-month-old. He still has health challenges we are addressing and sees a gastroenterologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, and a neurologist — and I know I’m probably forgetting another specialist somewhere in there. He is not even a year old and he stands to lose his Medicaid coverage under some proposals moving through Congress. We don’t know what his future holds. This is the most terrifying part. Lives are on the line.”

Fae Ehsan

“My parents moved to this country from India in 1995 to pursue opportunity, so at the age of five I was a young immigrant in America. While my dad was going to school, he also worked at a grocery store to make ends meet. He didn’t get health benefits from his job, so no one in my family had health insurance. Getting it privately would’ve been more expensive than my dad could earn stocking shelves. Unfortunately, I was a pretty sick kid growing up, always getting colds and coughs. One summer, I couldn’t stop coughing and had a steadily rising fever. Since we didn’t have insurance, we didn’t have a primary care doctor, so my mom walked me to an urgent care center. We had to walk because we didn’t have a car. The urgent care center refused to see me without $200 upfront; my mom only had $190. She offered them her wedding ring and the other valuable jewelry she was wearing in exchange for medical care. They refused. Eventually, a relative came by with the extra $10 — after I had already fainted from the fever in the waiting room while my mother was haggling with the receptionist. Today, my dad works a good job and everyone in our family has health insurance; eventually, I got a job with great health insurance, too. I can see a doctor whenever I want. I want that for all people. I just think of those families starting out like my parents did. What will they do? No mother should have to haggle with healthcare providers to get care for herself or her child. Everyone should have access to care.”

Adrianne Gunter

“I suddenly went from being a healthy, happy college senior to being tired all the time. I couldn’t understand things. At first, I thought it was stress. Then, I lost vision in my left eye. That’s when everything came to a screeching halt: I was eventually diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Almost instantly, I became unemployed and unemployable. MS is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system; scars called lesions form in the brain and spinal column. These lesions interfere with nerve receptors, making everything difficult. Right now, at 32 years old, I walk with a cane, but it’s already hard to lift my legs. My hands don’t grip the way they used to, and I need help getting the lids off of jars. When I eat, I have difficulty swallowing. There’s no cure for MS. It’s one of those preexisting, chronic conditions. For two years, I applied for health insurance and was denied four times — until the Affordable Care Act. It’s only after Governor Tom Wolf signed on to the ACA’s Medicaid expansion that I was finally able to get insurance. While there’s no cure for MS, there are treatments that can help. My first treatment was covered under the Medicaid I received; without coverage, treatments for me would cost thousands per month. I can’t afford that. Right now, I pay a copay of $3 for my treatment thanks to Medicaid, which also covers my doctor’s appointments and the MRIs that track the progression of the disease. It also gives me the peace of mind that, if something unexpected happens like a fall or broken bone, it will be covered and my mother won’t be buried in endless medical bills. I didn’t ask for this disease. I didn’t want it. If I could reach inside myself and rip MS out of me, I would. But I can’t. If Medicaid goes away and the Affordable Care Act is repealed, it’s the same as punishing people like me for being sick.”

Katherine Miller

“I had uterine surgery right before I became too old to stay on my parents’ insurance. My mother’s plan covered the surgery but a few weeks later after I turned 26, her insurance company dropped me. At the time, I couldn’t find full-time work, my part-time job didn’t offer health insurance, and I couldn’t afford any of the plans offered on the healthcare marketplace. I eventually got coverage through Medicaid, only because of the ACA’s Medicaid expansion here in Pennsylvania. After my operations, I needed regular follow-up care, but when I called the doctor I had been with for years, they said they didn’t accept Medicaid patients. This was incredibly upsetting; I had delayed my follow-up care while I obtained healthcare so I could go to the doctor I had been with for years. It was clear that my relationship with them was purely financial — not a patient-centered one. So, I went to Planned Parenthood. They saw me regardless of what insurance I had — or didn’t have. I got an appointment right away and continued going there for as long as I was on Medicaid. The whole time, I received top-quality, compassionate care. I was never treated differently there at Planned Parenthood because of my health insurance card. I don’t know what I would’ve done without PP or without Medicaid. I was able to get the care I needed — care that enabled me to continue going to work and showing up for life. That care helped make it possible for me to get promoted to a full-time position and become eligible for my employer’s health insurance, which meant I no longer needed Medicaid.”

Corrie Tice,

Social Services Manager, Mary Howard Health Center

“I’ve met with countless individuals benefiting from the Medicaid expansion in Pennsylvania. A lot of our patients are older adults and chronically homeless, often due to a combination of mental health and physical conditions, which a lack of housing exacerbates. Though not determined ‘disabled’ by Social Security, these individuals are unable to find or maintain gainful employment. Even when they do, it’s usually minimum wage work that usually doesn’t offer health benefits or where health benefits are too costly. These are the people — those on the margins of government benefits and society — that benefit tremendously from the ACA. They’re able to get their healthcare needs met through the Medicaid expansion, access that then prevents even costlier situations. Before the Medicaid expansion, these were some of the most frequent users of emergency rooms. They relied on ERs for all their healthcare needs and would often only seek care after conditions became dire. Repealing the ACA or cutting Medicaid will bring these individual back into the ER for routine care and mental or behavioral health issues. Not only does cutting Medicaid put their lives at risk but it also overwhelmingly burdens our hospital systems that will again find themselves functioning as primary urgent care centers — which increases healthcare expenses across the board.”

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Collaboration Can Lead to Change

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 15:42:00 +0000

By David T. Jones

Commissioner, DBHIDS

What’s happening along Gurney Street is something to be celebrated.

In just over two weeks since the clean-up project began along a stretch of land owned by Conrail in the Kensington-Fairhill community, more than 250 tons of waste and debris have been removed and fencing is going up to prevent people from becoming injured on or near the railroad tracks. In addition, the fencing serves as a barrier to prevent gathering in the area where folks had engaged in dangerous and unhealthy behavior. In this instance the “C “word, collaboration between City agencies and private partners, has made the difference — the once blighted landscape is no more.

But more important than the aesthetic improvements is the quality of life improvements that we are spearheading. Members of our team as well as our partner agencies have been on the ground since the project began on July 31, offering support to those who, for various reasons, were reluctant to seek supportive services and/or treatment. Fortunately during this time, nearly 150 people have been helped, 50 of whom were immediately referred to treatment services with the ultimate goal of getting them on the pathway to recovery.

It’s clear that effective change can take place, especially when individuals and organizations come together to serve those in greatest need. However, we know there remains a lot more to do. There were 900 opioid-related overdose deaths in Philadelphia last year. And, just about three-quarters of the way through 2017, overdose deaths are projected to reach 1,200 by year’s end.

So, while we are encouraged by the impact we’re having at Gurney Street, we are constantly working to see what can be done to get the appropriate services and treatment to people, seeing what can be done to address what has become a growing problem for far too many individuals and those who love them. This opioid epidemic, which we are pleased to hear has been deemed a national emergency, didn’t happen overnight and won’t be eradicated quickly. This is an all hands-on-deck situation that will require work on many fronts. We at DBHIDS will continue our outreach work, not just in the Kensington-Fairhill area, but throughout the city, to meet the needs of those with substance use or co-occurring challenges where they are.

In addition to connecting with those currently impacted by substance use disorder, we are continuing to educate people from all ages and walks of life. Prevention is key in the fight against substance misuse and we know that helping people see the dangers before they indulge can go a long way in creating healthier people, families, and communities. We are looking forward to participating in town hall meetings and other events to raise awareness and inform the public on what we’re doing in response to this epidemic that is jeopardizing the quality of life for individuals and their families throughout the nation.

And while the Mayor’s Task Force to Combat the Opioid Epidemic in Philadelphia is no longer meeting, we and other agencies throughout the city will continue to implement the 18 task force recommendations, thereby connecting people to treatment along with the critically important social determinants of health. This is not the first time substance misuse has reached epidemic proportions and while turning the tide is a monumental task. Together, we will resolve this crisis and together, we will see the benefits of what can happen when people, businesses, community organizations, and government come together to create compassionate change.

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Homeless Safety a Heightened Issue During Summer Months

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 15:46:00 +0000

By David T. Jones

Acting Commissioner, DBHIDS

Summer is here –- at last -– and for many people, thoughts turn to fun family getaways, sitting out by the pool or on the beach and sweet treats like ice cream or water ice to cool us down. But for people who are living on the street, these options of summer escapes aren’t so readily accessible.

Hundreds of people experience periods of street homelessness in Philadelphia, using street corners, transit hubs and parks as shelter. Heavily-traveled areas, particularly in and around Center City, reveal the faces of this sad reality. And while being homeless can be devastating enough for an individual, the problem is only compounded for those who are also living with an untreated mental illness, addiction, or both.

The dangers of living on the street are plentiful and troubling, and each season of the year presents a unique set of challenges that heighten public concern for the safety and welfare of the homeless. Rising temperatures and high levels of humidity pose a threat to the homeless during the summer months when consecutive days of excessively hot weather can cause city officials to declare a Code Red emergency.

Even in the absence of a Code Red, individuals experiencing street homelessness during the summer are exposed to the risk of potentially dangerous health problems due to the elements, including:

Hyperthermia caused by too many layers. Often those who have behavioral health or substance use issues wear too many clothes, even during warm-weather months
Sunburn and photosensitivity caused by too much exposure to the sun
Lyme disease and other conditions caused by insect bites
Difficulty breathing due to poor air-quality, triggering asthma and other conditions

The Office of Homeless Services, in collaboration with DBHIDS and dozens of provider agencies, does a commendable job year-round to support individuals who are chronically homeless, getting them into shelters, transitioning them into housing, and directing those struggling with addiction to treatment while also connecting them with other resources for the homeless.

Day in, day out, our Homeless Outreach workers are deployed to assigned zones where humane and personalized outreach and support are their top priorities. Our team of dedicated and compassionate professionals strives to build relationships with those who are experiencing chronic street homelessness, helping them overcome their obstacles and reluctance to coming off the street, getting them into shelters and safe havens, and directing those struggling with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health challenges to treatment, such as the Journey of Hope Project, or connecting them with other homeless resources. Essentially, our homeless outreach staff acts as a bridge to a life beyond homelessness.

If you are concerned about how the weather may impact individuals who are living on the street and displaying behavioral health challenges, you can help by doing the following:

Call the 24/7 Homeless Outreach hotline at 215-232-1984 to report a sighting
As an alternative to money, offer cool bottled water
In an emergency call 911 if an individual appears to be in danger

The issue of homelessness wasn’t created overnight and neither will the solution, but we are committed to doing all we can to ensure that homeless individuals with behavioral health challenges have access to the services along with the supported housing they deserve.

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