December 15, 2009
In Mind and in Spirit
Certification and Training empowers Behavioral Health Aides
by Donna Bach, YKHC Public Relations
YKHC Behavioral Health Aides are a great group to boast about. According to Janice Hamrick, YKHC's Behavioral Health Clinic and Village Service Director, they are the first in the state to be approved by the CHAP certification board under new certification standards.
These specially trained health aides-BHAs-are the front-line of support for patients with emotional or mental health vulnerabilities that could have consequences not only for their own individual health, but also for their families or community.
For years, BHAs have been hired and have traveled extensively to surrounding Delta villages to provide substance abuse and mental health services to people in need-often without the training necessary to help them address all the complex issues that many people in rural communities face.
It is no secret where Alaska's Native/American Indian population stands in comparison to other states when it comes to complex social issues stemming from an individual's overall mental health. We hear these statistics over and over again-number one in suicide rates, number one in alcohol and substance abuse, number one in domestic violence and child neglect.
But what do all of these troubling statistics really mean? It means our service area may be leading the nation in terms of individuals with mental health problems that put themselves and others at risk. And YKHC's Behavioral Health Aides are often the "first responders" when mental health issues become overwhelming.
The new certification standards with the requirements for training will better equip the BHAs to dispense mental and behavioral health services in their villages. Mental and emotional health issues are complex and the new Behavior Health standards give the BHAs the opportunity to learn important competencies that are needed in order to provide the necessary care for people in their villages.
Under the new certification standards, the BHAs can provide more intervention, prevention and case management in order to shape a more positive outlook for the mental and emotional health of their patients.
"There are situations in each village, and every circumstance can be unique to the extent that people in the village may expect a BHA to be able to provide treatment they may not necessarily have the appropriate training for," said Janice Hamrick of YKHC's Behavioral Health Division. "The feedback we have received from BHAs over time, and as a result of the numerous sensitive topics they have witnessed over the years, is that they felt compassion to do their work but lacked the training in specific competencies. This is why on-going education and training is necessary for this group of health practitioners, and those who wish to grow within the profession towards the future."
Now, with the roll-out of the Behavioral Health Aide Program certification standards and procedures implemented throughout the state of Alaska, there are opportunities for current BHAs to obtain certification through on-going training. This is a real bonus for the many individuals who may continue to struggle with substance abuse addictions, anger-management, those who have no one to turn to, or want help in how to treat mild depression, grief, or loss.
"The certification process gives me a boost in self-confidence, which we need a lot of," said Paul Dock, BHA II who works in the village of Kipnuk. "I have always believed that mental health issues an individual has are very fragile and delicate. . .it takes a lot of confidence in oneself to help them. I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way about getting certified."
"There are many misconceptions about behavioral health care delivery our BHAs have to work through on an on-going basis," said Hamrick. "While considering the large gamut of social issues, patterns of abuse, or scenarios people face in their lives in small communities where everyone may know everyone else. . . our BHAs need continued support and education to have the tools necessary to begin to address some of them, as well as have the appropriate assessments to inform them on where they are in their experiences in dealing with all kinds of unmet needs."
Because the mental health profession is often stigmatized, it poses a challenge for our front-line behavioral health aides who can offer assistance to many individuals who may not be aware of the services or assistance they can provide within their own village. It all starts with a conversation and the capacity in which a BHAs can provide assistance, or extend the opportunity for a higher-level practitioner to provide more support when necessary.
The YKHC Behavioral Health staff has put tremendous efforts in the past couple of years to educate villages about the mental health profession to help remove the stigma. One overarching goal the department seeks has been to influence an understanding of the profession through the BHA outreach so it isn't just another appointment "a person gets sent to," according to Hamrick. "Instead, we encourage individuals who may need some mental or behavioral health services to reach out to us, prior to a court order or a need for a referral from some agency. This is how our BHAs can really help."
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 26.2 percent of Americans age 18 and older-about 1 in 4 adults-suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. If this scenario were true for a village or community with a population of 300 people, hypothetically 200 age 18 or older, it would translate to approximately 50 individuals who could benefit from the assistance of a Behavioral Health Aide, or the need for a referral or diagnosis.
In addition, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada for ages 15-44. Early intervention, education, prognosis and treatment through the kind of assistance BHAs can offer could have a tremendous impact for at-risk teens or other folks who need help.
Identifying cases of mild depression from losing a loved one, or dealing with people struggling with addiction, along with other complex social constraints, are just some of the areas of which an experienced BHA professional can assist. While we may be number one in some negative ways, YKHC's BHAs are number one in a positive way-by becoming certified they will impact the health care of people across the YK Delta.
For more information about other services offered within Behavioral Health or if you are interested in becoming a BHA, Janice Hamrick can be reached at 543-6109.
