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Show Four Corners Mental Health Staffers Handle p Variety of Problems in Southeast Utah k m Living in an often anxious and unsettling world it is not surprising that everyone at one point in his life might seek psychiatric counseling. In Utah alone one out of every three marriages fail, and marriage and family disorganization disorgan-ization has become one of the most critical problems in this state. Suicide in Utah is another serious mental health problem. prob-lem. It is rated as second only to accidents as the leading cause of death in Utah among young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. Another major problem area is that of alchohol and drug abuse. In Utah alcoholism has increased 144 percent since 1965 and today alcohol and drug abuse related symptoms account for at least 20.2 percent of the admissions to services offered by mental health centers and the State Hospital. Often counseling for these problems can take place with a family doctor, church official, or friend, but more and more Utahns are seeking out the State Mental Health Clinics. These services are available to Moab residents through the Four Corners Community Mental Health Center with offices in the Arches building. Their main purpose is, "to assist each individual treated in acquiring self-reliance and becoming productive in the community." Effectiveness The effectiveness of the Utah Mental Health programs have shown to be very high in consumer satisfaction. A "rural "rur-al consumer satisfaction study," stu-dy," revealed that 91 percent of the consumers felt that they improved as a result of the services provided by the centers. Also 77 percent of those surveyed indicated that they would return to the center if they needed help again. The Four Corners Center serves people In Grand, San Juan, Emery and Carbon Counties. Mr. Darrell L. Peck is presently acting director for the Center. The Moab office is headquarters head-quarters for the San Juan and Grand area. Mr. Peck stated, "it's our philosophy to take services where the people are." Today the center operates oper-ates offices or has field workers in Monticello, Moab, Blanding, Mexican Hat, Bluff and Montezuma Creek. Mr. Peck stated that with these facilities there is a mental health center within 50 miles of most residetns. Services The Moab office deals mainly with what they call outpatient services. These are office cases where no hospitalization hospital-ization is required. Some of the cases involve sleep disturbances, marital problems, depression, court referals, serious thought disturbances, dis-turbances, and communication and emotional problems. Mr. Peck described the most important part of this service as when the troulbed person decides to seek help, makes an appointment, and shows up for a counseling session. Mr. Peck pointed out that these sessions involve working with communication skills and setting an atmosphere for the patient to see solutions and decide on them for himself. These sessions do not involve the center worker telling the patient what to do. The staff here in Moab consists of Mr. Peck and Mr. Roger Christensen, who both are Master's Degree Social Workers and Mrs. Laurel Lesmeister who will be heading head-ing the Out Reach program which deals with volunteer program and also counseling of patients who have returned from the State Hospital. At this time the center has a vacancy for a M.D. psychiatrist. psychia-trist. The center is currently using Dr. Gil Preston, who is part time on their staff, and other local doctors for back up till the vacancy is filled. Therapy The center focuses on what's happening in the patients life at the present and in helping with solutions and alternatives. Very seldom do they explore the past of the person. Usually six to twelve sessions are involved with each patient. Mr. Christensen has been working with group therapy sessions also. One is centered around marriage communication communica-tion and the other is a traditional problem solving group. Mr. Peck stated that the therapy for each person is centered around the needs of the patient. He feels group therapy often is more effective because more sources of feedback are available. Another service offered is called in-patient service. This is for those cases which call for hospitalization. Available to the center is a five-bed facility in Price; for more severe cases, the State Hospital in Provo and for short term, usually overnight hospitalization, hospitaliza-tion, Grand Memorial is used. Crisis Service The center also offers an emergency or crisis service. It is in operation 24 hours a day with calls going through the hospital after working hours. Mr. Peck reported that crisis calls average eight a month, and stated that in the last two weeks four people have been taken to the State Hospital, most of whom were transit to the area. Also available is a service centered around education and consolation. Often when a teacher, parent or another agency has a problem they talk to the center to get ideas . Also the center prepares m fj presents talks to schools r of service clubs and interested r rv organizations. y Funding LS10 The center is funded 80 j ' percent by a federal grant. The V' f rest is from state and local F h counties and also the fees collected for their service ' '" "The grant from the federal !''? government will be up in fout l years at which time the center i' will have to be self sufficient " V' ,itS ' Mr. Peck said. ' f ;r.e Everyone is eligible for this p''' service and the fee is p"" determined on a slide scale ii considering the patients in. 'S8'! come. Mr. Peck added, "jt becomes therapeutic for the ;ki patient to get involved and pay for the service." The typical P""1 fee is $5-$7 a session. V,'s c There is an Advisory Board of 13 people from the fout :e ' counties who deal with policy :'te making for the center. Grand i'"1'"6' County has three members on : ltw this board, Mr. Jim West, fi Mrs. Rhea Gramlich and Mr. :!i've Dan Holyoak from the county V$ to commission. Ltp" |
