By: John Spieker, PHHS Behavioral Health Supervisor 

Mental Health is a topic that seems to be everywhere these days. Safety, self-care, toxic relationships, random violence, elected officials, and workplace culture are just a few of the topics that fill our media landscape that are all related to mental health. We experience mental health language and vernacular in many places. Often terms and language are used as if we all know and understand what these terms mean, and yet the more we read or listen to social and other media, it seems the concepts and services of mental health are vague and confusing. 

This experience of confusion is real – the terms about mental health and the service delivery system are confusing. This lack of clarity is one of the barriers we all experience when it comes to addressing our own mental health. Even within the healthcare system, there is a general lack of full comprehension about what is a presenting mental health behavior/symptom. Mental Health is a complex health experience that affects us all, yet many of us struggle to talk about it with our loved ones or our healthcare providers. 

Mental health becomes more confusing as a service delivered by the government, paid for by health insurance, or when someone experiences a mental health crisis and interacts with law enforcement. As we often do not get the full picture of any individual event or understand the scope of how community systems interact around mental health, we collectively live with a vagueness on this topic. This lack of understanding of what mental health is and how we can be mentally healthy becomes an additional barrier to our ability to achieve positive mental health. 

One service that can assist an individual, family, or community to work through and manage mental health experiences, behaviors, and concerns is Behavioral Health Case Management. Case management is a term used broadly in many different organizations and industries, but generally is a form of assistance to an individual or group that provides support and resources to work through a need or barrier. 

For an individual or family that is experiencing mental health challenges, a case manager can assist in organizing medical appointments, securing basic needs, and accessing recovery options and resources. All of us have mental health throughout our lives. We have times when our mental health is challenged and other times when we are mentally healthy. Like physical health, we mostly manage our health needs ourselves and consult family/friends when we start to not feel well. We engage in preventative health behaviors by seeing a physician for our annual check–ups and we seek physician support for diagnostic information when our bodies are not feeling quite right. If a health need is identified, we look to that physician to recommend treatment. If the health need is more serious, intensive interventions are provided on both an outpatient and inpatient basis to help the person get back to a place of healthiness. 

Mental Health care is essentially the same as physical health care. Most of us do not have an annual mental health checkup, but we do seek assistance when our emotions or thoughts seem to be out of the ordinary or how we expect our lives to be. For some, a mental health diagnosis leads to varying degrees of interventions – lifestyle changes, medication, and/or therapy services are the most common and effective strategies. When the mental health experience is so overwhelming, long-lasting, or affecting our ability to live the life we want, case management can be the intervention that assists the individual and family in regaining health and function.   

Case management works with the individual as they navigate the mental health care process, supporting the individual towards a state of autonomy and health. Because mental health issues present as thoughts and feelings, serious mental health experiences affect our ability to recognize and then organize how we should seek health care assistance. A case manager can be the resource that assists in prioritizing all the various interventions and life needs while health is pursued and achieved. 

Mental health like physical health is a universal experience. We have states of health and illness across our lifespans. Education and the practice of healthy behaviors go a long way to helping us have healthy lifestyles. When our health is impacted by a more serious disease or illness, interventions can improve how we feel. Mental health challenges can be recovered from with appropriate healthcare interventions. Case Management is an effective intervention that supports recovery and health. 

Cook County Public Health and Human Services Behavioral Health team includes two Children’s Mental Health Case Managers, an Adult Mental Health Case Manager, and a Substance Use-Disorder/Co-occurring Disorders Case manager who provide support to all eligible Cook County residents. From children to adults, addressing serious psychological and/or substance use challenges, and supporting growth and recovery from acute crises through stability, PHHS behavioral health case managers can provide support to individuals and families across lifespans.   

Contact Cook County PHHS at 218-387-3620 with any questions about behavioral health case management services. You can also connect with a social worker by emailing [email protected]. Anyone experiencing mental health-related distress can call, chat, or text 988 for free and confidential support or to connect with a local mobile crisis response team. People can also connect with a trained counselor through 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need mental health resources or crisis support. If you or your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. 

Learn more about mental health case management services in Cook County at the December 19 PHHS Board Meeting. Information and resources are also available by calling 218-387-3620 or online at www.cookcountyphhs.org. We are located in the Cook County Courthouse. Our office is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact us via email at [email protected] or follow us on Facebook @CookCountyPHHS  or on Instagram @Cook_County_PHHS to learn more about our work in supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of Cook County. 

County Connections is a column on timely topics and service information from your Cook County government. Cook County – Supporting Community Through Quality Public Service.