Mental health diversion center opens in Midtown

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  1. I know how you feel.

  You may be trying to empathize, but “when someone is in such exquisite pain and can’t make sense of it, such a comment does not validate her feelings,” says Dr. Kissen. “Even if you’ve been through a bout of clinical depression yourself, everyone experiences depression differently.” Instead, say something like, “I can’t feel what you’re feeling, but I’m here for you.” This shows your willingness to share her pain and not run from it.

  See also: 10 Beautiful Ways to Surprise a Friend

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  1. I know how you feel.

  You may be trying to empathize, but “when someone is in such exquisite pain and can’t make sense of it, such a comment does not validate her feelings,” says Dr. Kissen. “Even if

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  Photo: iStockphoto
  

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  2. Everybody has bad days.

  “It’s not just about having a bad day,” says Chris Kilmartin, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. “It’s about having more bad days than not for a few weeks or more. It starts to impair a person’s job, schooling or personal relationships.” Focus on the fact that you’re ready to listen by saying something such as, “Help me understand how you feel.” Then hear her out without dismissing the intensity of her emotions.

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  2. Everybody has bad days.

  “It’s not just about having a bad day,” says Chris Kilmartin, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. “It’s about having more

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  3. What do you have to be depressed about?

  You may think you’re helping by pointing out what someone has to be grateful for, such as healthy kids or a beautiful home. “But your friend already may be thinking, ‘I should be more appreciative, and I feel guilty that I can’t pull myself out of this,’” says Dr. Kissen. Instead of telling her why she should be happy, do something together (even if she claims she won’t like it). Go for a walk or try a new restaurant. “Keep her connected with activities she enjoyed before depression set in,” explains Dr. Kissen. Activities don’t cure depression, but they may prevent a person from shutting down socially, which can make things worse.

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  3. What do you have to be depressed about?

  You may think you’re helping by pointing out what someone has to be grateful for, such as healthy kids or a beautiful home. “But your friend already may be

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  4. Other people have it harder than you.

  Your loved one may already think this, and it may make her think she has no right to feel awful. “These kinds of comments discount her situation and seem to say, ‘No, you don’t feel that way,’” says Helen Friedman, PhD, a clinical psychologist in private practice in St. Louis. Plus, it’s not about other people: It’s about what your friend is going through. A better approach: Ask, “How can I help you?” or say, “If you want to talk, let me know.”

  See also: 9 Things Never to Say to a Woman Who’s Miscarried

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  4. Other people have it harder than you.

  Your loved one may already think this, and it may make her think she has no right to feel awful. “These kinds of comments discount her situation and seem to say, ‘No,

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• 5. Why don’t you find a hobby/take a yoga class/drink chamomile tea?

  “The voice of depression tells a person to pull inward. You’re suggesting that they do the opposite thing by being engaged,” says

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  Photo: PETER DASILVA, File Photo
  

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  6. It’s all in your head.

  You might not mean to sound harsh, but this remark comes off as dismissive. “Educate yourself about depression,” says Dr. Friedman. “It’s a real medical condition. You wouldn’t tell someone with cancer that it’s in her head.” Instead of downplaying what your friend is feeling, say something like, “I’m glad you told me” or say nothing at all and just listen. “Sometimes there’s nothing more powerful than one person being absolutely present with another,” says Dr. Friedman.

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  6. It’s all in your head.

  You might not mean to sound harsh, but this remark comes off as dismissive. “Educate yourself about depression,” says Dr. Friedman. “It’s a real medical condition. You

  … more

  
  Photo: Fotolia
  

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  7. Why can’t you snap out of it?

  Perhaps you’re frustrated by what you perceive is your friend’s unwillingness to feel better or seek help. But no one chooses to be depressed. “Depression distorts a person’s perspective so that she feels nothing will ever change and that nothing can ever make things better,” says Dr. Winston. “The voice of depression is a constant barrage of hopelessness, guilt and worthlessness, so reassure your friend that these are feelings, not facts.” Stay involved to help your friend feel less alone.

  See also: How to Handle the Trickiest Friendship Situations

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  7. Why can’t you snap out of it?

  Perhaps you’re frustrated by what you perceive is your friend’s unwillingness to feel better or seek help. But no one chooses to be depressed. “Depression distorts a

  … more

  
  Photo: Mark Douet, Getty Images
  

• 8. Can’t you just get on some anti-depressant drugs?

  There’s not one solution for everyone, and drugs aren’t necessarily the answer. It’s also not useful to compare situations, such as, “My cousin

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  9. Please don’t hurt yourself.

  It’s better to ask, “Have you thought about hurting yourself?” says Dr. Kilmartin. If your friend or family member says yes (or if they describe a time, place or way they’d do it), take immediate action: Call your loved one’s primary care doctor or therapist, or dial 911. Get her to safety immediately so she can get the help she needs.

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  9. Please don’t hurt yourself.

  It’s better to ask, “Have you thought about hurting yourself?” says Dr. Kilmartin. If your friend or family member says yes (or if they describe a time, place or way

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  Photo: Tom Merton, Getty Images
  

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Grappling with a growing mentally ill jail population and a revolving door of low-level offenders, Harris County this week announced its latest effort to keep people out of jail: The Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center.

The 29-bed Midtown location officially opened its doors Monday, marking the start of a program that provides a pre-booking alternative to jail for low-level, non-violent offenders with mental illnesses. Now, those would-be inmates can avoid jail and criminal charges altogether and get treatment instead.

“It’s important for us in law enforcement to be tough on crime, but I think we can also be compassionate,” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. “This facility can evaluate the individual, determine care, reduce the impact of negative events in their lives, and keep them connected to the community to minimize the effects of mental illness.”

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The diversion center, which began taking in clients after a soft launch on Sept. 4, already has provided services to 150 people, officials said. In a county where more than a quarter of jail inmates are on psychiatric medication, the new program aims to get to the root cause of why people are committing crimes and prevent them from recurring.

“For too long, the Harris County Jail has served as a mental health care provider in our region,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “This model must change.”

Some of the roughly 9,000 people in the county lock-up have been booked 70 to 80 times for offenses such as trespassing and loitering, showing that the county lockup is not always the appropriate place for people with mental illnesses, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said.

“The era of ‘nail ‘em and jail ‘em’ just is clearly not working for the mentally ill,” Ogg said. The program will mostly target those charged with Class B misdemeanors.

The center, at 1215 Dennis, is an offshoot of the Harris County Mental Health Jail Diversion pilot program, which was approved by the Texas Legislature in 2013, and started in the jail the following year.

Under that program, severely mentally ill people already behind bars were identified and connected with mental-health treatment, counseling, housing and other services.

Though a 2016 report by state Health and Human Services officials found the program improved outcomes, only a small fraction — less than a third — of those eligible chose to participate.

“It took a while to understand how to help these individuals,” state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, who sponsored the bill to start the program, said at the time. “I would say that it’s still a work in progress.”

At the new center, people who are eligible typically will stay for a matter of hours, but can be housed there for days if needed, sheriff’s Major Mike Lee said.

The center is named after the county judge, who long has advocated for the creation of programs to give offenders in county jails the mental health services they need.

“I am humbled beyond belief,” Emmett said. “Thank you for putting my name up there, but I think those families in years to come are going to thank you even more.”

The jail already has worked to offer better options for mentally ill inmates. When Gonzalez took office, he created a Mental Health Jail Diversion Bureau. And, in recent years, the jail launched two different programs to help mentally ill inmates stay out of isolation with therapy and social time instead of solitary confinement.

Still, the lockup has struggled with its daunting role as the state’s largest mental health provider. Over the summer, the jail had two inmate suicides in a matter of weeks, one of which drew criticism from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

The diversion center will be a place that will help remove the stigma and shame that often is associated with mental illness, Turner said, along with helping to work toward making Harris County a place where people can live their best lives.

“Oftentimes people just need help,” Turner said. “I am confident that this will be a place of hope and transformation for many.”

samantha.ketterer@chron.com

keri.blakinger@chron.com

Article source: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Mental-health-diversion-center-opens-in-midtown-13271981.php