💚🧠 We’d like to end Mental Health Awareness Month by once again emphasizing the importance of mental health. It is just as crucial as physical health. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and it can have a major impact on our quality of life.

There are many different factors that can affect our mental health, including our genetics, our environment, and our experiences. Some people are more likely to experience mental health problems than others, but everyone is at risk.

Mental health problems can range from mild to severe. Some common mental health problems include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

If you are struggling with your mental health, it is important to seek help. There are many resources available, including therapy, medication, and support groups.

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. By making healthy choices and seeking help when you need it, you can improve your mental health and live a happier, healthier life.

Here are some tips for taking care of your mental health:
•  Get enough sleep.
•  Eat a healthy diet.
•  Exercise regularly.
•  Spend time with loved ones.
•  Do things that you enjoy.
•  Learn to manage stress.
•  Seek help if you are struggling.

Remember, you are not alone. Millions of people around the world struggle with mental health problems. Help is available.

Concerned about your mental health? Make an appointment with us today. RRHC has a dedicated team of professionals who can help. We'll work with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your specific needs.

Can’t make it to an in-person visit? Telehealth appointments are available. 

We also offer a variety of payment options, including the Sliding Fee Scale and payment plans, so you can get the help you need without having to worry about the cost.

If you're ready to take the first step toward improving your mental health, please contact us today. We're here for you.

Call us at (304) 869-3650 or text (304) 643-4005 to learn more.

Here are some additional resources that can help:
•  National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-NAMI
•  MentalHealth.gov: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/
•  988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
•  The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
•  Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

You are not alone.

#mentalhealth #MentalHealthMonth

💚🧠Mental Health Provider Article #3 🧠💚

Creating a Safe Space
By: Ashley Stevens, MA, LPC

Did you know that your environment can have an impact on your mental health? The places you frequent, or your living space can take a huge toll on your mental and emotional well-being. That’s why it’s important to create a safe space for yourself where you can relax and unwind. Below are just a few things to pay attention to when creating a safe and calming space for yourself:

Sensory: Temperature, smells, lighting, and color palettes can affect how comfortable, relaxed, and safe you feel. Loud noises and harsh lighting can lead to anxiety and agitation, much like cool, dark rooms can leave you feeling less motivated and depressed, especially in the winter. 

Aesthetics: Creating a calmer environment can be as simple as having a clean space. Cluttered spaces can cause anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed, so it’s helpful to have a clean organized space filled with meaningful objects or pictures that bring feelings of happiness. 

Familiarity: It is important to have positive associations in your environment like family keepsakes, familiar objects, or photos that remind you or give you a sense of connection. Sometimes disorganization or things that remind you of a difficult relationship can trigger feelings of anxiety or depression so ensuring that positive connection is important when creating a safe space for yourself. 

Culture and Values: When feelings of isolation or depression arise, it is important to surround yourself in an environment where you can connect with others that share the same or similar values, beliefs, and culture in order to create a deeper level of connection. 

People: Sharing a space with someone you can trust can create a sense of calm. Being in environments where there is conflict, unreliability, and inconsistency can create feelings of stress, anger, and anxiety and one can become easily overwhelmed which is why it’s important to remove yourself from those spaces and situations accordingly. 

When the world around you feels overwhelming because things are out of your control, focus on the things that you can control by managing your environment. 
​
#MentalHealthMonth #MentalHealth

At RRHC, we believe in transparency. That’s why we’d like to inform you about our transition to new software: CheckinAsyst and TrustVideo.

The best part is that these changes will NOT affect our services or the excellent care you receive! You can still complete your check-in on your mobile phone, tablet, or computer, and make secure payments online. Telehealth visits have now become even more accessible and easy to do! AND depending on your communication preferences, you will receive voice appointment reminders in addition to emails and texts!

​CheckinAsyst
Our new digital patient intake solution, CheckinAsyst, is designed to improve the quality of patient experience and maximize efficiency at our practice. Now, when you make an appointment, you’ll receive a check-in notification email and/or text, depending on your communication preferences. Please note, you do NOT need to complete both. ​

Check-In Notification Email
If you receive a check-in notification email, the sender will be "[email protected]". If you don’t receive the email in your inbox, check your junk or spam folder. 

When you open the email, you'll see an invitation to pre-register for your appointment:

Upon clicking, "Pre-register", you'll be prompted to enter your name and date of birth. Once you have entered in your information, click "Complete paper work":

Once you have completed the questionnaire, you'll be prompted to review and confirm your answers and sign the forms:

After signing, you'll be prompted to pay any balance e.g. copay (if applicable). *PLEASE NOTE, if you have an outstanding balance, you will not be able to complete check-in until you pay OR select, "Pay at Clinic":

You'll then be thanked for registering and instructed to meet with the receptionist, which you will do upon arrival:​

Upon clicking the link, you'll be prompted to enter your name and date of birth. After entering your information, tap "Complete paper work":

Once you have completed the questionnaire, you'll be prompted to review and confirm your answers and sign the forms:

That's it! You have successfully pre-registered for your appointment! No worries if you unable to pre-register or don’t have a cell phone or personal device. Just like before, you can check in upon arrival using one of our devices. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please contact the respective RRHC location.

Also, you may get a duplicate appointment reminder from the previous check-in system we were using - please just ignore it.

TrustVideo
TrustVideo, powered by Let’s Talk Interactive, connects patients to providers, allowing them to offer healthcare services and consultations remotely. Once the transition is complete, TrustVideo will be hosting all RRHC telehealth visits.

Completing Registration
As with an in-person visit, you'll need to complete the necessary registration forms before your telehealth appointment. Please review the steps listed above for more details.

TrustVideo Email Invite
After you have completed registration, you'll receive another email from "[email protected]". Upon opening the email, you'll see several options, "Yes, I can attend", "No, I cannot attend", or "Connect with .....":

By selecting "Yes, I can attend" or "Connect with .....", you'll be directed to the TrustVideo dashboard:

The dashboard allows you to manage your appointment, view the details, and, if it is time for your appointment, you'll be able to initiate the video chat by clicking, "Launch session". To reschedule or cancel the appointment, you can click the three vertical dots:

Upon clicking "Launch session", you'll be asked to give TrustVideo permission to access your device's camera and mic. Please make sure to select "Allow" or else you will not be able to do the telehealth visit:

Once the telehealth visit is over, you can leave the video chat and exit out of the web browser. 

That's All Folks
And there you have it! As always, don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions - we're happy to help!

💚😌Mental Health Provider Article #2😌💚
By: Chandra Diebold, PMHNP 

Spring is a time for growth, so it is the perfect time for you to expand your personal growth by creating a safe mental space in your home. A mental safe space is one where you can relax and unwind, and it elicits feelings of emotional and physical security. It can refer to a space where dialogues are open and free of judgment or a space that is physically protected from any sort of threat. Having your own safe space can help to promote a daily sense of calm by counteracting everyday stressors that can accumulate while you are out of the house. 

A healthy safe space is:
1.  A place where you can be yourself without fear of judgment or punishment
2.  A place where you can be alone if you want
3.  A relatively clean, stable place you can access anytime you need
4.  Populated with things that make you happy and satisfied
5.  A place where you can freely express your emotions and your creativity

A healthy safe space is supposed to lift you up and recharge you.

Below are a few tips on creating your safe space:
1.  Create physical safety
    a.  It is hard to feel comfortable when you are worried about your physical safety. Consider home security systems, automatic door locks, doorbell cameras and any other means to ensure physical safety.
2.  Encourage emotional safety
    a.  Your home should be a familiar place, and your décor should reflect your unique personality and your unique emotional needs.
    b.  Eliminate common stressors such as smart phone, laptop, tablet or even television.
   c.  Unplug from electronics during certain times of the day or making sure certain objects and devices stay in designated rooms.
3.  Define your safe space
    a.  The brain is an amazing organ that learns to associate different areas of your homes with the activities you perform in them. For instance, watching television in your bedroom can make it difficult to fall asleep since your brain associates this room with stimulus.
    b.  Designate each room for its purpose i.e. eating in the dining room, watching tv in the family room, sleeping in the bedroom.
    c.  Your safe space should be clearly defined so that your brain learns to associate it with a sense of calm and relaxation.
    d.  Try to resist using your safe space for work.
4.  Therapeutic décor
    a.  Aesthetics of your environment can have a strong effect. Decorating your safe space can be a great way to express yourself while tapping into your brain’s favorite relaxation triggers.
    b.  Consider using aromatherapy with candles, incense, or essential oils. Scents like bergamot, lavender and rose are associated with stress relief and relaxation.
    c.  Color therapy works too—a fresh coat of blue, green or grey paint in muted tones helps encourage feelings of well-being and emotional safety.
    d.  Fresh plants or flowers in the room.
    e.  Favorite music or white noise in the background.
    f.  Soft natural lighting.
5.  Family and friends
    a.  Defining a safe space at home can be difficult when you’re sharing your living space with family or roommates. Part of creating your safe space may involve communicating with the people you live with.
    b.  Start with an open and honest conversation about your safe space.
    c.  Designate a certain amount of time that you will be in your safe space and ask that they respect it.
   d.  Lay down ground rules for the safe space time such as what conversations or interruptions will be allowed and not allowed if any.

Enjoy your very own place of serenity!

🧠💚🙌Given that May is Mental Health Awareness Month, it makes sense that May 12 is National Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day. This day is a time to thank the mental health professionals who work tirelessly to help people overcome mental health issues.

Mental health providers come in all shapes and sizes. They are psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and more. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, and private practices.

No matter where they work or what their specialty is, all mental health providers share one thing in common: they are dedicated to helping people. They listen to their patients, offer support, and provide guidance. They help people understand their mental health issues and develop coping mechanisms. They also help people connect with resources in their community.

Mental health providers play a vital role in our society. They help people live healthier, happier lives. They make a difference in the lives of their patients and their families.

On this National Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day, we’d like to thank our mental health providers for all they do: Jasen R. Nichols, Licensed Psychologist, Chandra Diebold, PMHNP, and Ashley Stevens, Licensed Professional Counselor.
#mentalhealthprovidersday #menthealth

🥳🙌Today, we celebrate our receptionists who help ensure RRHC runs smoothly. Receptionists are usually the first people that our patients see when they visit our offices, and they play a vital role in creating a positive first impression. They are also responsible for a variety of other tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and providing customer service.

📞 Receptionists are often the unsung heroes of the workplace, but their contributions are truly essential to our success. They are the glue that holds our teams together, and they make our jobs easier and more enjoyable.
So today, let's take a moment to thank our receptionists for all that they do. They deserve our appreciation and respect!
​
👏❤️Happy National Receptionists Day - Tara Shiflet, Madison Dillon, Leigh Anne Malson, Emily Shaffer, Jonnay Houser, Stacy Satterfield, Darby Grimm, Amanda Ranfos, Faith McCullough, Laura Brumfield, Abby Janschek, Kala Hartness, and Samantha Blouir (not pictured)❤️👏
#nationalreceptionistday #Receptionist

May is chock-full of events and things to celebrate but is also Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. For the past 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being.

To help raise awareness this year, Ritchie Regional Health Center asked our behavioral health providers to write articles on the subject. Given that today kicks off Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we’d like to share the editorial of our Behavioral Health Director, Jasen R. Nichols. 

Why Does My Child Act This Way?
By: Jasen R. Nichols, Licensed Psychologist 

It’s an age-old question that parents of even the most well-behaved children have asked themselves. Samantha is told by her mother to clean up her snack cake wrappers that are lying on her bedroom floor attracting ants and immediately begins to argue in protest. Darrin won’t stop making that annoying sound that resembles a car alarm no matter how many times his father angrily tells him to stop. Tommy keeps nagging his mother to let him jump out of a 15 ft tree with a trash bag because he is sure it will be an effective parachute. But why? Why do they do these things? 

As a parent or guardian, do you ever feel lost or doubt your ability to manage your child? Of course you do. If you answered ‘no’ to that question, I’m sorry, I don’t believe you. If you were brave enough to answer ‘yes’, however, do you know what that makes you? A parent. A normal human being who is trying their best to figure out something that sometimes seems impossible to figure out. At times, to the outside observer, it might even look like a chimpanzee trying to solve an algebra problem. Attempting to understand your child’s behavior and then responding in a helpful way can be tiring, confusing, frustrating, irritating, and any other word you care to add to that list that describes that pit of despair that you sometimes feel when you are overwhelmed with their misbehavior. We love these little people and just want what’s best for them. In addition to simply loving them, it’s our responsibility to teach and guide them to adulthood so that they can be independent, functioning members of society who can effectively interact with other people, get their own needs met, and help those around them. So why do they keep misbehaving? What are they trying to accomplish? What are you supposed to do?  

As a side note, let me say that having a child who misbehaves at times does not necessarily mean that they have some sort of psychiatric illness and need to talk to a therapist. Behaviors that parents struggle to manage are to be expected. Kids are trying to figure it all out just like we adults are and, like some adults, don’t always understand why they display some of the behaviors that they do or even why they feel the way that they do. Moreover, trying to express what they don’t understand within them can be even more challenging. How many times have you asked your child “Why did you…” only to be met with those three words that sound like fingernails across a chalkboard? The infamous “I don’t know” response. For those parents who are younger and don’t know what a chalkboard is, trust me, the sound can be horrendous. It’s like Mike Starr’s character, ‘Joe’, in the movie ‘Dumb and Dumber’ who had the privilege of hearing Jim Carrey’s character, ‘Lloyd’, demonstrate “the most annoying sound in the world” directly to his face while sitting next to him in the ‘Mutt Cutts’ van. I invite you to stop reading and take a couple minutes to watch it on YouTube just to refresh your memory and maybe even get a much-needed laugh. At the same time, there are those kids who loosely understand the goal of their behavior and are simply going about trying to get particular needs met in a self-defeating way that ends up getting them in trouble. However, if believe that your child is struggling with a psychiatric concern that may be contributing to their misbehavior, trust your gut and talk to a medical or behavioral health professional right away. After all, you are their parent or guardian and know them better than anyone. 

With that being said, I was asked a few weeks ago to write a post of my choosing for Mental Health Awareness Month, which occurs on a yearly basis during the month of May. I like things to be clear, understandable, and relatable. Making things too complicated only makes me sound foolish and leaves you feeling frustrated. At the same time, I recognize that answering the question ‘Why does my child act this way?’ is a very complicated question with so many different answers that it would be impossible to answer the question in one short post. So, after thinking about it for awhile, I had the idea that this could be a relatively short mini-series, of sorts, that provides general thoughts and opinions about child misbehavior and what we as parents (yes, I’m a parent, too) can do to better understand and respond to what our kids are trying to tell us through their behavior. Honestly, I’m not sure where this will go or even if it will be well received. But, that’s okay. It’s a journey, really, just like parenting, and there will be something for me to learn from it. Maybe it will even give us the opportunity to learn from each other. My ultimate goals are to help you better understand the drama while also helping you think about different ways to strengthen the relationship with your child. At the same time, this is not meant to replace or be a substitute for professional psychotherapy services. Lastly, you are certainly free to agree or disagree with what I have to say. If you feel compelled to comment, however, all that I ask is that you make it constructive.
So, now that I’ve shared my purpose, I leave you with a thought. The next time your child misbehaves, ask yourself these two questions: 1) “Why did they act this way?” and 2) “What need(s) are they really trying to get met?” If you can’t answer those questions, that’s okay. Join the club. Just try your best. I’m simply asking you to start looking at the behavior from a different angle for now. Until next time, happy parenting!     
 
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Did you enjoy the article? We know we did! If you’d like to make an appointment with Jasen, call 304-869-3650. He serves clients ages 7 and above at Ritchie Regional’s School-Based Health Center at Ritchie County Middle/High School, where he offers individual and family therapy services.

And don’t forget, we have other providers on our behavioral health team: Ashley Stevens, MA, LPC, and Chandra Diebold, PMHNP. 

Need Help Now?
- If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
- To learn how to get support for mental health, drug, and alcohol issues, visit FindSupport.gov.
#mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness

👏🥳💖Happy National Nurses Day! 💖🥳👏

Nurses are compassionate, caring, and skilled professionals who make a real difference in the lives of their patients. Ritchie Regional Health Center would like to take a moment to thank our LPNs - Mary Spencer, Kathy Osborne, Jodi Ross, Danielle Lipscomb, Leeann Cool, McKenzie Wright, Cheryl Bohn, and Logan Hardbarger - for their hard work and dedication. You are the backbone of the healthcare system, and we appreciate everything you do.

Thank you for your service and have a very happy National Nurses Day!

"Nurse: just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate everything and soft enough to understand everyone."

#nationalnursesday2023