By ROMONA WASHINGTON
editor@newssun.com
SEBRING - Mental health advocates representing about six entities, some in private practice, gathered Tuesday evening to talk about the needs not being met in Highlands County.
Kerry Robinson, a registered nurse and certified psychiatric nurse for Florida Home Health, said such a meeting has always been a dream of hers.
She said the purpose of the meeting was to create a connection between all levels of mentalhealth professionals in the county in an effort to provide better continuity of care for all patients. She pointed out that some home health clients may suffer from depression or anxiety but they have never had a work up from a psychologist. As a result, the patient might benefit from an outpatient counselor or a program like Florida Hospital's Daybreak.
Robinson has 22 years experience caring for patients with depression, Bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, panic and anxiety disorders, dementia, paranoid disorders, impaired insight and judgment disorders.
Robinson also hopes to establish an awareness of all available community resources in the area of mental health to meet both short term or long term needs of the clients. The lack of a senior center or Alzheimer's day care center is a void that needs to be filled. One senior center is open for Alzheimer's patients for a few hours on Wednesdays only, simply not long enough for caregivers to fill any relief. Respite care is another void.
She said there is also a need to provide a networking environment where people who hold the same interests can discuss topics that are relevant to mental health and provide education related to their specialty. For instance, Dr. Susan L. Crum, a psychologist, shared information as the guest speaker of her biofeedback and brain mapping work at Central Florida Neuropsychology, which she opened in January. After Crum's presentation, all attendees were asked to introduce themselves at which time other brief announcements were made such as Lisa Rodriguez's upcoming series for Alzheimer's care givers and the efforts being made to get a local NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) organization formed.
Robinson suggested that the group gather on a monthly basis, or bi-monthly basis to continue discussions of work being done and programs that are offered. She said such a gathering would also provide an arena where mental health professionals can be a support system for each other.
Friday, June 26, 2009 - www.newssun.com/0626-mental-health