Holy Rosary Healthcare Connects Patients to Community Mental Health Resources
During May, Mental Health Awareness Month, the US Surgeon General raised awareness about the impact of an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, sharing that it can "increase the risk for individuals to develop mental health challenges in their lives and that lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking daily.”
Chuck Dailey, a behavioral health therapist at Holy Rosary Healthcare, has seen these impacts firsthand as he evaluates patients' mental health needs and connects them to resources.
"I've seen isolation and loneliness as a key factor in many mental health issues. At our core, people are wired to connect with others but don't always know how to or hold onto a stigma which keeps them from doing so," shared Dailey.
In his role, Dailey helps to evaluate patients' mental health needs when they come to the hospital, provides therapy, and helps facilitate community referral services in coordination with primary care and hospital providers. These resources can include crisis and suicide prevention support, addiction recovery programs, and local social support agencies.
Additionally, Dailey helps facilitate referrals to the Montana Assertive Community Treatment (MACT) program through the Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center. MACT is a behavioral health delivery model designed specifically for rural and frontier areas that offer community-based treatment. MACT teams are made up of multidisciplinary groups of licensed staff and paraprofessionals available anytime to go out into the community and provide care for people wherever they are.
Dailey shares the importance for those struggling with mental health challenges to understand what resources are available and connecting them to the appropriate support.
"Knowing what mental health resources are available can not only make your life better, but also for those around you," he shared. "There are many people and organizations willing to help and many opportunities to help others."
Since joining the Holy Rosary team in 2022, Dailey has worked with patients of all ages to connect them to community-based resources and coordinate peer support. Additionally, he also hosts a Veteran Coffee Social on the last Friday of each month at the Holy Rosary Cafeteria at 8 am.
"I approach people in a friendly and non-judgmental way. Hopefully, letting them see therapists are okay to talk to, maybe even fun."
For those struggling with mental health, Dailey recommends that they speak with their medical provider, or for those in crisis, he recommends that they call 988, a 24-hour mental health crisis line available to anyone, including veterans and Spanish-language speakers, to connect to immediate help.