T.J. Samson | Destination Health | April 2018

Could we help you or a loved one? Talk to your doctor, or call 270-384-7516. 2 DESTINATION HEALTH Here when you need us Behav i o r a l Hea l th Un i t prov i de s spe c i a l i z ed c a re 5 small heart-healthy changes you can make today Improving your heart’s health may seem like a big project. But even small changes in your daily habits can make a difference. Here are five simple steps you can get started on right away. Bring a piece of fruit to work. Eating more fruits (and veggies) is a heart-healthy choice. Plus many fruits are portable (think apples, oranges and bananas), which makes them an easy snack option. When hunger hits, hav- ing a piece of fruit at your work area will help you avoid less-healthy options from the vending machine. Take a 10-minute walking break. If you sit behind a computer most of the time, get up for a quick stroll several times a day. Sit- ting less and moving more is good for your ticker and your body overall. Keep in mind it’s easier to fit in the recommended 30 minutes of move- ment every day if you divide the time into shorter bouts. Give your screens an earlier bed- time. Too little sleep can hurt your heart and increase your risk for other diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, which can also affect heart health. Watching TV or using your smart- phone or computer close to bedtime can keep you awake. Try giving yourself a deadline for turning off your screens an hour before bedtime every night. Relaxing to music or a book may help you doze off. Have a hearty laugh. Laughter eases stress, which is a good thing because too much stress may boost your risk for heart dis- ease. For a regular dose of mirth, set aside time to watch some laugh-out-loud videos. Compare food labels for sodium con- tent. Too much sodium can boost blood pressure, which is hard on your heart. Differ- ent brands of foods can have different sodium amounts. It only takes a moment to read food labels and to choose the brand with the least amount of sodium. You might be surprised to learn that some foods that don’t have really high levels of sodium, like bread, are among the top sources of the mineral in the American diet— simply because we may eat several servings of them a day. Sources: American Heart Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 1 2 3 4 5 Mental illnesses are health problems, just like high blood pressure or diabetes. And like any health condition, they re- quire care and compassion. “Mental illness is nothing shameful or embarrassing,” says Debbie Boyd, RN, MSN. She’s the Program Director of the T.J. Health Columbia Behavioral Health Unit. “It’s an illness.” People in a mental health crisis can turn to our Behavioral Health Unit—the only inpatient psychiatric hospital in Adair and the surrounding counties. The 17-bed unit opened in 2016. It’s open to adults ages 18 to 64.The unit is here to help people get stable after a behavioral health crisis. It’s care our community needs. “Kentucky has one of the highest rates of depression and severe mental illness in the nation,” says Boyd. “Rural Kentucky, as with other forms of medical care, lags behind in identifying and providing access to care for individuals with mental illness.” That’s why we strive to be a leader in qual- ity behavioral health care.The Behavioral Health Unit provides services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. HOW TO GET HELP There are a few ways to get in touch with the Behavioral Health Unit. You can call 270-384-7516 . Another option is going to the T.J. Samson Columbia ER. You can also get a referral. We often see patients referred by doctors, mental health professionals and social services. “Patients are admitted to the program based on medical necessity and admission criteria that outline who will benefit from the services,” says Boyd. Each person is reviewed on an individual basis. Some factors that would qualify you for admission: ●  ● Suicide attempt in the last 72 hours. ●  ● Suicidal or homicidal ideation. ●  ● Violent behavior caused by a psychiatric condition. ●  ● Self-harm. ●  ● Major depression. ●  ● Auditory or visual hallucinations. ●  ● Stopping psychiatric medication. ●  ● Inability to cope. ●  ● Other psychiatric disorders. WHAT TO EXPECT At the Behavioral Health Unit, the staff is experienced and caring. We have psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, thera- pists and other professionals. The first step is an evalu- ation. After that, services vary by patient. Treatments can include activity therapy, group therapy or one-on-one counseling. You may be prescribed medication or have your dose adjusted. The Behavioral Health Unit is a safe, supportive environment. It has 24-hour nursing care and is a nonsmoking unit. Visiting hours are limited to specific times. This is because people in the unit are in group therapy throughout the day. Treatment isn’t over when patients go home.The behavioral health team works with families to develop plans for contin- ued care.That might be outpatient coun- seling or help finding a substance abuse treatment program.The goal is to help people move through a crisis and get back to their lives.