When Crisis Hit, One Family Found Support at the Youth and Family Care Connection

It was late June when Ryanna’s teenage daughter went for a walk in her Oakland County neighborhood to calm her racing thoughts. 

Overwhelmed by anxiety and feeling as if she might pass out, she picked up her phone and dialed 911. Within minutes, police officers were at their door, ready to help. Instead of judgment, they offered a lifeline: Oakland Community Health Network’s Youth and Family Care Connection (YFCC) in Pontiac.

“You hate to hear that your kid wants to not be in this world after you fought so hard to bring them up and watch them grow and thrive,” Ryanna says. “What parent wants to hear their child say they want to kill themselves?”

A place of comfort, not judgment

Ryanna didn’t know what to expect. But from the moment they walked through the doors, she felt relief.

“Most places that you walk into, you feel like you’re being judged,” she says. “But they were warm and welcoming, no judgment at all, because we were all there for a common goal — to make sure my daughter felt safe and secure.”

During her daughter’s three-day stay, staff not only cared for her but kept Ryanna updated regularly. “Even though I would get a phone call from my daughter, [the staff] was on top of everything,” Ryanna recalls.

Learning tools for everyday life

The YFCC gave Ryanna and her daughter more than immediate support — they provided strategies they could keep using at home.

“They sent home eight papers of different techniques and things we can work on together, or if she just wanted to branch off and do her own thing,” Ryanna says.

The tools are sticking. “She tries to do conflict resolution, which is phenomenal,” Ryanna says. 

“And if she’s not agreeing with something, she’s like, ‘Let’s agree to disagree.’ And I say you are absolutely correct.”

Support that continues

What surprised Ryanna most was the ongoing care. Staff at the YFCC continued to check in even after her daughter returned home, which reassured her that she wasn’t alone in navigating the challenges ahead.

The support helped Ryanna, too. “Going through something like this makes your brain a little hairy,” she admits. “It wasn’t just for my daughter. It was for all of us.”

What parents should know about the YFCC

Ryanna’s family was connected to the YFCC through the police, but parents should know they don’t have to wait for a crisis call to 911.

The Youth and Family Care Connection is open 24/7, and parents can walk in directly or call any time — no referral or appointment needed. The center focuses only on youth mental health, not medical emergencies, and is designed to be a calm alternative to a hospital ER.

Children and teens up to age 17 can stay for up to 72 hours. During that time, they receive therapy, support with coping skills and a safety plan for what comes next. Parents receive guidance, too, including how to set up outpatient care and follow-up appointments.

A message for other parents

Looking back, Ryanna is grateful her daughter spoke up — and that the Youth and Family Care Connection was there to help.

“The best advice that I can give parents is that when your child is telling you, ‘Mom, there’s something wrong,’ listen,” she says. “Because they might not always voice that there’s something wrong, but when they do voice it, be serious about it.”

And her message goes beyond her own experience. “Just love and kindness is what these kids need,” Ryanna says. 

“They just need that listening ear with a really loud and crazy world that we live in. Getting help is not a weakness or a defeat. Sometimes we just need a little bit of hope. And our kids get that way, too. So we owe it to them.”

 

If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. 

This content is sponsored by Oakland Community Health Network. Learn more about the Youth and Family Care Connection.

OCHN manages and funds a service provider network for approximately 30,000 Oakland County residents at more than 400 service sites across the county. People who receive public behavioral health services through OCHN’s provider network include those who have an intellectual or developmental disability, mental health concerns or substance use disorder. Most of these individuals have Medicaid insurance coverage.

OCHN’s goal is to ensure these individuals are aware of and have access to services and support that will improve their health and quality of life, as well as ensure their engagement in full community participation. Its mission to “inspire hope, empower people, and strengthen communities” reflects an unyielding belief in a “Valuable System for Valued People.”

Programs and supports provided by OCHN’s service network are available at oaklandchn.org.

from Metro Parent https://ift.tt/TEtiyVf