THE CHAS FOUNDATION

MENTAL ILLNESS NAVIGATOR & SUPPORT (MINS) PROGRAM IN 2024, THE CHAS FOUNDATION CONTINUED HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS BY CONNECTING THEM TO LOCAL TREATMENT PROVIDERS AND OFFERING PEER FAMILY SUPPORT. SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION, CRISIS MEALS, AND TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI). INDEED, THERE IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN AN INDIVIDUAL NEEDING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND THEM ACCESSING TREATMENT. A MULTITUDE OF BARRIERS EXIST ACCESSING TREATMENT INCLUDING COST, TRANSPORTATION, LACK OF PROVIDERS, WAIT-TIMES TO RECEIVE TREATMENT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ETC CHAS SEEKS TO ELIMINATE THOSE BARRIERS. THE MENTAL ILLNESS NAVIGATOR AND SUPPORT PROGRAM EDUCATES FAMILIES ABOUT THE COMPLEX MENTAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, SUPPORTS THEM ALONG THEIR JOURNEY, AND PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF CARE THROUGH REFERRALS AND CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (TREATMENT PROVIDERS, HOUSING, POLICE, COURT, JAILS). WHEN INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES AND RESOURCES ARE INADEQUATE, OR THE INDIVIDUAL AND/OR FAMILY HAS EXHAUSTED ALL OPTIONS, THE CHAS FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE PEER FAMILY SUPPORT SO THAT A SUPPORT SYSTEM IS ESTABLISHED FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY UNIT. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS GIVEN BY MEETING WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AT THEIR CHOICE OF LOCATION, PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO REACH SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND ASSISTANCE MAKING DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS. THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM CAN BE A MAZE FOR INDIVIDUALS. MANY PEOPLE, FAMILIES, AND CARETAKERS DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO START OR HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM. AN ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDE SHOWING RESOURCES AND SERVICES IN EVERY HAMPTON ROADS CITY IS CONTINUALLY UPDATED FOR COMMUNITY USE. CHAS IS THE PRIMARY CONTACT LISTED FOR RESIDENTS TO ACCESS RESOURCES AND SERVICES ON THE MENTALLY HEALTHY HAMPTON ROADS RESOURCE GUIDE. THE RESOURCE GUIDE CAN BE FOUND AND DOWNLOADED AT TALKABOUTITNORFOLK.COM. CHAS AND THE NAVIGATOR AND SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDE A FREE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE FOR THE HAMPTON ROADS REGION. A PERSON CAN CALL AND SPEAK WITH A PEER-SPECIALIST THAT'S COMPASSIONATE, CARING, SUPPORTIVE, AND INFORMATIVE WHILE WORKING TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY MEMBER, OR CARETAKER. A CHAS PEER-FAMILY-SUPPORT SPECIALIST IS AVAILABLE BY PHONE FROM 9AM TO 5PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND NO APPOINTMENT IS NECESSARY. THE SUPPORT SPECIALIST IS LOCAL TO THE REGION AND PROVIDES BOTH INFORMATION AND SUPPORT THAT IS TRULY A LIFELINE TO CALLERS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THE MINS PEER-SUPPORT-SPECIALIST CAN BE ON THE PHONE OR MEETING WITH A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT FOR UPWARDS OF 3 HOURS PER DAY. MINS STAFF WORK WITH SOME PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS DAILY OR MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK AND SOME PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN IN THE MINS PROGRAM FOR OVER 8 YEARS. UNLIKE BEFORE, LOCAL HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE PROVIDERS ARE NOW REFERRING FAMILIES TO THE CHAS FOUNDATION. THE MINS PROGRAM ALSO RECEIVES CALLS FROM PEOPLE ASKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND RESOURCES INCLUDING BASIC INFORMATION LIKE PHONE NUMBERS OR ADDRESSES FOR INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROVIDERS. IN 2024, 612 PEER-SUPPORT CONNECTIONS TO SERVICE PROVIDERS AND RESOURCES WERE MADE BY THE MINS PROGRAM. 58% OF THE CALLS CHAS RECEIVES COMES FROM FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS ASKING HOW TO HELP A LOVED ONE. 80% OF CALLERS HAVE SOME FORM OF HEALTH INSURANCE. 70% OF CALLERS LIVE IN SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN, THE MINS PROGRAM HAS DIRECTLY HELPED OVER 4200 PEOPLE AND HAVE MADE OVER 5500 CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL SERVICES. 2024 SAW AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDING CRISIS MEALS (69% INCREASE) AND TEMPORARY HOUSING (282% INCREASE) FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS. MINDFULNESS PROGRAM MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY MAY BE USEFUL FOR TREATING SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY, ACCORDING TO RESEARCH PUBLISHED RECENTLY IN THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. RESEARCHERS LOOKED AT CHANGES IN ANXIETY LEVELS AMONG PATIENTS WITH GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER USING DIFFERENT TREATMENTS. THEY FOUND THAT MBCT AND COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY-BASED PSYCHOEDUCATION WERE BOTH EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING ANXIETY SYMPTOMS. MINDFULNESS-BASED INTERVENTIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN FOUND TO BE USEFUL ADDITIONS FOR IMPROVING SYMPTOMS AND REDUCING HOSPITALIZATION AMONG PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOSIS. SOME RESEARCH SHOWS THAT FOR PEOPLE WITH ADHD, MINDFULNESS TRAINING MAY BE A HELPFUL SUPPLEMENT TO MEDICATION IN ADDRESSING REMAINING SYMPTOMS OF INATTENTION. MEDITATION PROGRAMS ARE ALSO BEING USED TO HELP REDUCE PTSD SEVERITY IN VETERANS. CHAS CONTINUES HOLDING TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS FOR MINDFULNESS. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM CONTINUED WITH WORKSHOPS AT LOCAL HAMPTON ROADS HIGH SCHOOLS AND WORKING WITH BOTH STUDENTS AND FACULTY. 272 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN TRAINED THIS YEAR THROUGH BOTH GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL SETTINGS. MINDFULNESS IS NOW RECOMMENDED AS AN ALTERNATIVE OR SUPPLEMENTAL TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS SUCH AS ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND BIPOLAR DISORDER. FAMILIES AND CARETAKERS OF THOSE STRUGGLING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THE MINDFULNESS OR WELLNESS ROOM LOCATED AT THE CHAS OFFICE. MINDFULNESS HELPS THESE INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP COPING SKILLS AND USEFUL TECHNIQUES THAT CAN IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND OVERALL WELL-BEING. EDUCATION/TRAINING THE CHAS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM IN NORFOLK, VA. CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS (CIT) ARE PROGRAMS THAT BRING TOGETHER LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, CONSUMERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND FAMILY ADVOCATES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE MULTI-SYSTEMS' RESPONSE TO PERSONS EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHAS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM FOR 11 YEARS AND HAS TRAINED OVER 2,500 POLICE OFFICERS. THE DIRECTOR ALSO TRAINS CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AT THE NORFOLK SHERIFFS OFFICE. 355 CORRECTIONS OFFICERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY CHAS. IN ADDITION, THE CHAS FOUNDATION ATTENDS MENTAL HEALTH FAIRS THROUGHOUT HAMPTON ROADS EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ALONG WITH PROMOTING DISCUSSIONS ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITIES. THE FAIRS HAVE REACHED AN ESTIMATED 2,750 PARTICIPANTS TO DATE. PUBLIC AWARENESS & ANTI-STIGMA IN 2024, THE CHAS FOUNDATION CONTINUED MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND ANTI- STIGMA CAMPAIGNS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE MONTH OF MAY. MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH MESSAGES WERE SPREAD THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND EBLASTS STATING IT IS OK TO REACH OUT FOR HELP AND THAT CHAS IS A FREE RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY. EARLY TREATMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF MENTAL ILLNESS HAS SHOWN TO INCREASE AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY. UNLIKE MANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND/OR DISEASES, INDIVIDUALS OFTEN HIDE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND MASK THEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY STAGES. CHAS AIMS TO HELP AN INDIVIDUAL RECOGNIZE THAT THEY SHOULD NEVER FEEL ASHAMED ASKING FOR HELP AND SEEKING TREATMENT. SOCIAL MEDIA WAS THE PRIMARY TOOL UTILIZED TO CONTINUE RAISING AWARENESS AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON NEW RESEARCH REGARDING MENTAL ILLNESS. COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND SERVICES, CHAS CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE AND PARTNER WITH NUMEROUS HOSPITALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. CHAS HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL MEMBER OF MENTALLY HEALTHY NORFOLK, A COALITION OF LEADERS REPRESENTING PUBLIC HEALTH, NONPROFIT, GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, AND FAITH COMMUNITIES. THE CITY OF NORFOLK, EVMS, CHKD, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS MAKE UP THE GROUP. OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE SAFE SPACES THROUGHOUT NORFOLK WHERE PEOPLE FEEL READY AND ABLE TO SEEK THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE THEY NEED, WHEN THEY NEED IT. OUR VISION IS TO MAKE A STIGMA-FREE COMMUNITY AND OUR CORE INITIATIVE IS "TALK ABOUT IT NORFOLK", AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN TO BRING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH OUT OF THE SHADOWS OF STIGMA AND INTO EVERYDAY LIFE. OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND THIS TO INVOLVE ALL CITIES IN AND AROUND HAMPTON ROADS. RESOURCE GUIDES WERE PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE REGION. IN 2024, CHAS CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF THE KINGS DAUGHTERS BY HELPING WITH THE YOUTH SUICIDE: RISK AND PREVENTION CONFERENCE. CHAS WAS INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING OF THE TWO-DAY CONFERENCE THAT INCLUDED TOPICS SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS, CRISIS SAFETY, SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACTS ON MENTAL HEALTH, SLEEP INTERVENTIONS FOR YOUTH, AND NON-SUICIDAL SELF-INJURY TO NAME A FEW. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS ALONG WITH THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION HAS DECLARED A NATIONAL EMERGENCY IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH. JUST LIKE OTHER ILLNESSES, EARLY PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ARE BOTH CRITICAL TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES. THE CHAS FOUNDATION ALSO CONTINUES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH AND ALONGSIDE LOCAL COMMUNI