Frustrated going into your holidays? South Florida walk-in clinics now offer mental health help

The holidays can be a joy-filled season, but they can also be stressful and difficult for people who suffer from isolation, grief, depression, and mental illness. In Broward and Palm Beach counties, walk-in clinics, hotlines and mobile units offer resources for anyone who needs immediate mental health help.

In a strip mall in Davie, the Memorial Health Care Garden Drop-In Center opened in January and offers support groups, social activities, counseling and peer mentoring seven days a week. It’s even open Christmas and New Year’s Day.

“There’s a lot for people who feel depressed or isolated who don’t want to stay at home alone,” said Maria Pilar Dominguez, manager of Rebel’s drop-in center. “There’s even one-on-one support.”

With the happy stress of the holiday, Malcolm Butler realizes that his schizophrenia could easily overwhelm him. So on Tuesday afternoon, he paints a white cat on the window sill using small strokes on the canvas.

Like Butler, people from cities across Broward County with a variety of mental health issues come to the Rebel Drop-In Center to attend support groups, participate in arts and crafts, attend a yoga class or Meet with a counselor.

There is a men’s support group for those who do not have custody of their children during the holidays or are grieving. There are women’s support groups for those who are worried or feel alone.

More serious help for mental conditions

A rear entrance to the same building leads to the Memorial Outpatient Behavioral Health Center where anyone 15 or older can come in and be evaluated for mental health care.

“There are people who walk in and need immediate care. We spend first, and then set them up with an appointment,” explains Claudia Vicencio, director of Memorial Outpatient Behavioral Health. “Once they are evaluated, we will start the service in five to seven days.”

The center has psychiatrists, mental health counselors and primary care services. It also recommends escetamine therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation for adults resistant to depression.

“With the holiday season, we are busier than normal on the clinical side,” Vicincio said. “We see a lot of people moving in.”

But he adds, “It’s not for anyone in an immediate crisis.”

For children and youth up to 26, PM Children’s Behavioral Health in Coral Springs can see a new patient with a mental health concern within 72 hours, even during the holidays. Anyone can meet online.

The holidays take a toll on mental health

At this time of year, mental health counselors prepare for what’s known as the holiday blues, a short-term extended bout of depression. The biggest danger is that depression can lead to addiction. In addition, the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 64% of people living with mental illness reported that their mood worsened around the holidays.

Feelings of loneliness may also worsen around the holidays. Earlier this year, the US Surgeon General issued an advisory that called attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation and lack of connection. Among adults who feel lonely, the risk of developing depression is twice as high as those who rarely or never feel lonely, the report says.

“There’s a lot of media attention at this time of year on family reunions, and that increases comparisons and that increases loneliness for some people,” said Julian Holt-Lonstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience, and social communication. And the health director said. Brigham Young University Lab. During a Cyline webinar, she noted that anyone can be vulnerable, including young people.

“It’s not unique to the elderly … it affects us all,” she said.

Hotlines offer immediate help

In South Florida, wait times for private therapists and psychiatrists can be weeks or even months. However, anyone who feels isolated or has mental health concerns can call 2-1-1 in Broward and Palm Beach counties and reach a responder who can direct them to services.

“Our phone line is staffed 24 hours a day with someone who can talk to you so you know you’re not alone,” said Francisco Izza, 211 Broward’s chief operating officer. “Consumers call us just needing support that day. Sometimes they’ll call two or three times in the same day. They may be feeling lonely or dealing with grief. The most important thing is that We can listen to a person’s story and provide emotional support.

Isaza said responders may refer callers to therapy, support groups, telephone health services, mobile crisis units or walk-in centers, depending on the situation. “Sometimes just talking to someone who can make a situation worse helps that person, and emergency crisis services are never needed,” he said.

Anyone in crisis can get help

Anyone in a mental health crisis or coping with suicidal thoughts in South Florida has options.

They can go to the Henderson Central Outreach Center in Lauderhill and get help, said Dr. Steven Ronk, CEO of Henderson Behavioral Health, which has services in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Staff at the walk-in center at 4720 N. State Street 7 can connect walk-in patients with therapists, psychiatrists and other intervention services. They can even check on the patient for 23 hours for stability.

“It’s like urgent care for behavioral health,” Ronick said.

Henderson also has a mobile crisis unit that responds to residents wherever they are in an emotional or mental health crisis.

“The goal is to make sure the person is safe and resolve the crisis,” Ronick said. A crisis intervention team assesses the scene, and if necessary may take the person for voluntary or involuntary hospitalization.

Unless there is immediate danger, Roenick advises most people in need to start by calling 9-8-8, the new mental health and suicide prevention hotline. Phone calls are answered by local mental health professionals who can talk someone through their anxiety or send a mobile crisis unit to their home if they suspect it is needed.

“I want to stress to people that they don’t have to think about it,” Roenick said. “If they think they’re in trouble, dial those three digits. That gets them started, and the professional who answers can access whatever else they need.

Of course, anyone in crisis can also go to a hospital emergency department. Not every hospital has a mental health professional. But some do, and those who can’t take the patient to a hospital with someone on staff.

Dr. Daniel Bober, chief of psychiatry at Memorial Regional Hospital, sees adults who come to the emergency room and present a danger to themselves or others. The hospital also has an adolescent psychiatrist on staff.

“For many people, the holidays bring up painful things like addiction, loss, trauma … what they see is an empty seat at the table or a promise not fulfilled, or a dream not fulfilled,” he said. “They may become intoxicated and that brings on suicidal thoughts.”

Bober estimates that about half of people who come to the emergency department in crisis are admitted and half go home with a plan of care. A patient who is admitted can be kept for up to 72 hours. After that, they have to sign as a voluntary admission, he said.

“Often, just time away from the situation itself can be somewhat therapeutic,” Bober said. Bober said. “They need a place to cool down. Some scenarios may require medication or restraints, and the next morning, often the patient can go home.

Bober said every hospital’s emergency department should see someone in crisis, but if they don’t have professionals on staff, they’ll transfer patients to a hospital that does.

“Western society tells us it’s time to be happy,” he said. “If you’re in a crisis and have to decide what to do, you’re better off erring on the side of caution and going to the ER.”

SunSentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.