 Dear Colleagues,
World Mental Health Day is on Oct. 10, and we wanted to take the opportunity to talk about this important topic that impacts our own health as well as the health of the youth and families we serve.
Mental health issues have long been integral to the work we do, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified those issues. Before the pandemic, in 2019, an estimated one in eight people globally were living with a mental disorder, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). During the first year of the pandemic, anxiety and depressive disorders rose more than 25%, according to estimates from WHO.
Protecting and addressing our own mental health, while providing the right services to our youth, is more critical than ever.
Taking care of yourself
We are acutely aware of the strains that our work can place on our own mental health. We know that many of you witness, hear about, or assist with incredibly difficult issues as you do your jobs.
The added stresses of staff shortages, mandated overtime, and caring for yourself and your family can make mental health issues even more acute.
We encourage all of you to check in regularly with your own mental health. It’s OK to reach out for help if you need it. Here are several resources:
We all know how important mental health is for the youth in our custody. Given that the majority of our youth have a mental health diagnosis, all of us who provide direct care are helping these youth manage their mental health in some way.
We asked Dr. Brian Hartman, OYA’s supervising clinical psychologist, and Dr. Blerta Isak, a QMHP at Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility, to share their perspectives on mental health treatment for our youth — you can read their responses below.
Please remember that in order to do your best in caring for others, you have to first take care of yourself. Thank you for all that you do to support our youth in their mental health journey.
Sincerely,
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Joe O'Leary
Director, Oregon Youth Authority |
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Carlos Rodriguez
Interim deputy director, Oregon Youth Authority |
Q: Why is it important for our staff to be aware of mental health issues in relation to working with our youth?
Dr. Brian Hartman, OYA’s supervising clinical psychologist: There are an increasing number of youth coming in with significant mental health issues. When we have youth with those needs, it is critical that our staff are able to work effectively with those youth in a way that supports their recovery. This is essential to supporting the youth so that they go on to not only live a safe and crime-free life, but rather a life worth living.
Dr. Blerta Isak, a QMHP at Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility: Mental health issues are the core of our developmental approach. We work with youth who have been deprived of the ability to develop in a typical healthy trajectory and any underlying mental health conditions were further exacerbated as result of less-than-optimal developmental conditions. Being aware and understanding mental health needs is the starting point of seeing our youth and building the necessary supports for them to have a chance to overcome. Being aware of their mental health needs will give staff context as to why a particular behavior or interaction occurred and hopefully help staff move away from a perception of the youth as being manipulative, lying, dramatic, weak, etc.
Q: What do you recommend to staff who are working with a youth who is dealing with mental health issues?
Dr. Hartman: I often encourage staff to take the time needed to truly understand why the youth with mental health challenges do the things they do. I’ve found through both my own personal experience with people with significant mental health issues, as well as experiences with staff, that it is easy to see the associated behaviors as being intentional or otherwise a cognizant choice. When people take time to truly understand why youth are engaging in problem behaviors, it becomes much easier to maintain the perspective necessary to help the youth learn to intervene themselves in the future. I also like to remind staff that the research is pretty clear on the fact that a solid, trusting, open relationship is one of the single most important factors toward recovery, and as such, every staff has a potential therapeutic role, even if not formally classified as such.
Dr. Isak: First and foremost, for staff to be aware of their own mental health and history so that they do not project their own pain onto the youth. Another important part to keep in mind is that every behavior, every symptom serves a purpose, so rather than chase the “symptoms”, make an effort to understand the function that it plays in the youth’s daily life. Last but not least, our youth have functioned with their mental health distress for at least 10+ years so be patient and understand that change will take a long time. There will often be many setbacks, but that does not mean you have failed or that the youth does not care. It takes time and consistency to heal the pain.
Q: What do you wish everyone would know and remember in relation to mental health?
Dr. Hartman: I would want people to know two things. First, and most importantly, recovery is possible. It is important to know that recovery is a journey, not a destination, but that with effort on both their part and others’, along with appropriate treatment, most people do get better. The other thing, which is related to a certain extent, is that we can be both empathetic and supportive, while simultaneously holding youth accountable. There is an old saying to the effect of “just because your pain is understandable, doesn’t mean your behavior is acceptable.” Our goal within the OYA mental health system is to help youth come to understand that distinction and be accountable for their behavior by addressing the pain that has caused it, so as to stop that cycle.
Dr. Isak: Mental health is often taken for granted until it starts to get away from us, so be compassionate toward yourself and others. Respect the strength that it takes someone to care for their mental health. Just because you do not see it does not mean that it has no value.
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