The Asante Foundation Receives Two Grants to Support Critical Mental Health Needs in Southern Oregon
Medford, Ore.—December 9, 2015 — The strain on mental health services in Southern Oregon continues to grow. Each year, approximately 800 individuals including adults, children and veterans receive some form of mental health care at the Behavioral Health Unit or Psychiatric Care Unit at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. With the support of community partners, Asante will be able to increase the capacity to treat mental health patients and implement the Sanctuary Model of care.
Two significant grants are helping to make that happen, including $25,000 from CareOregon and $50,000 from the William and Florence Schneider Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation. “Asante is committed to providing the resources and leadership to help transform the state of mental health care in our nine county service area,” said Debbie Daggett, grants manager for Asante Foundation. “These grants will help us transform the traditional standard of care for our patients and renovate both units to expand our capacity.”
The Sanctuary Model has proven to be successful in the treatment of mental health patients. It takes a collaborative approach and better engages the individual in their own recovery. “We’ve seen shortened treatment stays, fewer readmissions, and reduced levels of aggression and anxiety,” said Dr. Anne O’Connell, Behavioral Health Unit psychiatrist. “We’re building trust between our mental health patients and staff members, which is improving their outcomes.”
Statistics by the Medford Police Department show a 31% increase in mental health calls for individuals in crisis and a 70% rise in adolescent cases between 2013 and 2014. Jackson County has one of the highest suicide rates in Oregon. “Children are at particular risk for mental illness,” said Dr. O’Connell. “With no child or adolescent inpatient services available in Southern Oregon, these troubled children are currently held alongside adults in the Psychiatric Care Unit.” The renovation will allow for the secure unit to be a flexible space to better address the day-to-day needs of the unit.
The Sanctuary Model, a trademarked treatment method that originated more than 30 years ago in the Philadelphia area, uses a trauma-informed approach to develop relationships between patients and caregivers. It focuses on providing healing environments in which patients can overcome the root causes of their issues.
