Mental health services are a huge need in communities across New York state. Upstate Caring Partners’ 24-hour Crisis Stabilization Center in Utica is trying to help with this need.
“Many people that come through our doors are suffering from addiction, mental health or both and we don’t judge,” said Kathy Lindberg, a peer support specialist team lead for community health and behavioral services. “We provide hope and encouragement for them. We walk through the journey with them. We advocate for them.”
She says all peer support specialists have lived experiences, which bring a lot of comfort to the individuals they work with.
“I have folks that have been sent over to me that have come out of crisis and people that we send, you know, some of my clients have been over to the stabilization center because they happen to go into crisis,” said Lindberg.
There’s a great need for this service not only in the Mohawk Valley but across the state, New York has funded 12 crisis stabilization centers with the hope of relieving pressure on emergency rooms.
“There’s no real true definition of what a crisis means,” said Jenni Barlow-Gagnon, the executive vice president of behavioral health services for Upstate Caring Partners.
She says they support children, youth, families and adults.
“We work with them for 23 hours and 59 minutes,” Barlow-Gagnon said. “So it’s really a 24-hour or less program. But our goal within that time frame is really to connect you to resources and tools that might help you in navigating that crisis situation. But most importantly, where do you go from here?”
The program also follows up with individuals in the first 48 hours to monitor their progress.
“I thought that I was crazy, you know; I didn’t know that the alcohol was ruining my life. I didn’t know that it was having an effect on my mental health,” said Lindberg.
Lindberg has been sober for 30 years and she’s grateful to be in a position to help others now.
“For me, this is just an extension of my own recovery and I feel like I have purpose,” she said.