Writer: Abbey Tauchen Photos: Duane Tinkey NAMI Iowa Ryan Crane When NAMI Iowa visited local middle and high schools for its “Ending the Silence” program, an initiative to encourage young people to talk about mental health, an eighth grade girl left a poignant note on the response form. “She said, ‘This presentation was the first time I heard someone else describe what I feel every day,’” recalled Ryan Crane, NAMI Iowa’s executive director. “We created a connection there that is meaningful.” The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the largest grassroots mental health organization in the United States, has been helping reduce the stigmas surrounding mental illnesses since 1979. Closer to home, the state chapter has been supporting Iowans for more than 40 years. NAMI Iowa advocates at the county, state and national levels for nondiscriminatory access to health care, housing, education and employment for people with mental illness. The group also educates the public about mental illness, advocates for a comprehensive mental health system that provides effective timely services, and supports people with mental illnesses, their providers and their loved ones. “You don’t have to be alone,” Crane said. “There is help and there is hope.” Community members can support the nonprofit by donating at namiiowa.org/donate and by opening the conversation surrounding mental health. “Make it OK to talk about mental illness,” Crane said. “If you have someone in your life who is struggling, take time out of your day to connect with them, hold space for them, be with them.” Make It OK Brianna Sink Make It OK is one of four programs under Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating Iowans and providing opportunities to live their healthiest lives. This community campaign aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness by increasing understanding and fostering caring conversations about mental health. “We all have good days and bad days,” said Brianna Sink, coordinator for Make It OK. “We’re trying to educate all Iowans on how to have a caring conversation when someone opens up about their mental health journey.” More than 1 in 5 American adults live with a mental illness, and more than 1 in 5 youths ages 13-18 have experienced a serious mental illness at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We all have mental health just like we all have physical health, and everyone deserves to get help,” Sink said. While Make It OK does not provide direct mental health services, it serves as a bridge to resources by partnering with organizations across the state, such as NAMI Iowa and Mindspring Mental Health Alliance. Businesses and nonprofits can get involved by registering their organization as a Make It OK site, which provides workplaces with resources, support and learning opportunities. Individuals can also sign up to become ambassadors, empowering them to volunteer at events, give presentations and distribute materials. For updates on Make It OK’s monthly virtual presentations and real-life stories of Iowans who have faced mental health challenges, visit iowashealthieststate.com. “You never know what someone is going through,” Sink said. “Mental health is not visible, so talking about it is so important.” Mind & Spirit Counseling Center Jim Hayes At the Mind & Spirit Counseling Center, “We walk with people through counseling and education to find hope and healing, helping them live a full life,” said Jim Hayes, the center’s executive director. The nonprofit center helps anyone who needs support, regardless of their background. The center accepts all forms of insurance and offers counseling, psychiatry, psychological testing and spiritual direction. It serves people from all walks of life, including those who are underinsured or without insurance. The center’s 30 clinicians include psychologists, social workers, licensed mental health professionals, and marriage and family counselors. The medical team includes two psychiatrists, a nurse practitioner, a psychologist trained in medication management and a medical assistant. Formerly known as the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center, the nonprofit emphasizes leadership and spiritual life programs and collaborates with corporations and religious communities, without ties to any specific denomination. The center’s team also conducts community-based programs, such as suicide-prevention groups, and offers training for people pursuing careers in mental health care. “We help people from birth to death,” Hayes said. “We see people from all walks of life. Between 30% and 40% of the people who come to us receive some form of [financial] assistance to make their therapy possible.” To support its efforts, donations can be made on its website, mindspiritcenter.org. “It doesn’t always take a therapist to show genuine care and concern for your neighbor,” Hayes said. “You can help someone through a mental health crisis by simply being there for them.” More Resources Tap into these local sources to find mental health organizations that serve Greater Des Moines. This list is not meant to be comprehensive or to provide an endorsement, but it’s a good place to start to find more information about nonprofit organizations, health centers and public agencies involved in mental health care. GENERAL SERVICES AND HEALTH CENTERS 211Iowa.org: A resource guide to mental health services, provided by United Way of Central Iowa. 211Iowa.org Broadlawns Medical Center: Offers comprehensive outpatient and inpatient evaluation and treatment. Broadlawns Psychiatric Urgent Care (1801 Hickman Road) accepts walk-in appointments for adults experiencing exacerbated mental health conditions. broadlawns.org/clinics-and-services/mental-health Broadlawns Community Clinic at Drake: Provides primary care, urgent care and mental health services to Drake University students and staff, as well as Drake neighborhood residents who live within walking distance of campus (2970 University Ave.). broadlawns.org/clinics-and-services/Drake-Community-Clinic Clive Behavioral Health Hospital: A partnership of MercyOne and Universal Health Services, the freestanding behavioral health hospital provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient mental health services for adults and children. clivebehavioral.com Des Moines University Behavioral Health Clinic: Serves adults through psychotherapy and psychological testing and assessment, as well as medication management. The clinic treats a variety of behavioral and mental health conditions. dmu.edu/clinic Employee and Family Resources: A full-service employee assistance program provider offering a range of counseling and mental health services. efr.org Eyerly Ball Community Mental Health Service: Provides a continuum of mental health services and treatments, including family and individual counseling as well as outpatient care. eyerlyball.org Lutheran Services in Iowa: Offers mental health therapy through in-person or virtual sessions. lsiowa.org Mental Health Task Force of Polk County: Works collaboratively with community stakeholders to increase mental health literacy, improve access to services and reduce suicides. mentalhealthpolk.org MercyOne Behavioral Health Care: Provides a full range of services (1111 Sixth Ave.) for adults and adolescents for most kinds of mental health issues, including anxiety, anger control and depression. mercyone.org/desmoines Mindspring Mental Health Alliance: Focuses on mental health education, support and advocacy. mindspringhealth.org Optimae Behavioral Health Services: Provides individual, couples and family therapy, as well as mental health evaluations and medication management. optimaelifeservices.com Polk County Health Services Inc.: Offers counseling, support, therapy, medication management, resources and referrals. polk.ia.networkofcare.org Primary Health Care: Treats mental health conditions regardless of a patient’s immigration status or ability to pay. phcinc.net Schuster Behavioral Health Center: Part of MercyOne House of Mercy that offers outpatient therapy, intervention services and medication management. mercyone.org/desmoines/house-of-mercy UnityPoint Health: Provides comprehensive outpatient and inpatient mental health services and programs. A walk-in clinic (1250 E. Ninth St.) offers psychiatric evaluation and assessment, plus community resources. Iowa Lutheran Hospital-UnityPoint is a hospital-based facility that provides psychiatric diagnosis and treatment for all ages, including children and adolescents. unitypoint.org UCS Healthcare: Offers mental health services for anyone in need. Services include medication management and dual diagnosis treatment for people with drug or alcohol addictions. ucsdsm.org Your Life Iowa: Provides free, confidential support and connection to resources for those struggling with drugs or alcohol, gambling or mental health issues. Funded by the Iowa Department of Public Health. yourlifeiowa.org CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Children and Families of Iowa: Offers a range of mental health services, including helping families develop goals and positive living environments. cfiowa.org ChildServe: Focuses on comprehensive assessments and diagnoses, therapy and education opportunities for children and families. childserve.org Iowa Safe Schools: Works to ensure the personal safety, mental health and learning of LGBTQ students through public awareness, education and policy. iowasafeschools.org LSI Behavioral Health Intervention Services: Works with families with children who have behavioral or emotional disorders to develop anger management, problem-solving and other skills. It’s operated by Lutheran Services in Iowa. lsiowa.org Mosaic Family Counseling Center: Offers trauma therapy and behavioral health interventions, among other services. mosaicfamilyinc.com Orchard Place: Specializes in mental health services for children, including residential, outpatient, in-home, community-based and care coordination programs. orchardplace.org Please Pass the Love: Supports mental health in schools to improve the quality of life and educational opportunities for children, families and educators. pleasepassthelove.org Youth Emergency Services and Shelter of Iowa: Provides evaluations, counseling and behavioral health services to individuals and families, including outreach counseling to homeless youths. yessiowa.org YSS: Provides children and families experiencing behavioral and mental health issues with counseling and therapy services, evaluation, assessment and diagnosis. yss.org SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CRISIS RESPONSE Broadlawns Mobile Crisis: Provides short-term crisis management for children and adults experiencing a mental health emergency. Assists law enforcement with mental health-related calls. broadlawns.org Clerk of the District Court, Mental Health Division: Assists with securing involuntary hospitalization of the mentally ill or those with substance abuse issues. iowacourts.gov