Medford, Ore. — In recent years law enforcement in the Medford area has seen a consistent uptick in mental health calls and so have mental health professionals.
Rick Rawlins, a Clinical Operation Manager with Jackson County Mental Health said a year or two ago between 35-50 employees were hired on during their initial expansion, but it was still not enough to keep up with the demand for mental health services in the county.
“We continue to see an increase of people coming through, needing services both on our crisis team and our adult out patient ongoing therapy,” said Rawlins.
That’s why he said on Wednesday, officials from Jackson County Mental Health will be asking county commissioners for their approval on a proposal to expand services that may possibly include adding satellite locations apart from the Health and Human Services building in Medford.
More resources for people struggling with mental illness is what Compass House Executive Director, Matthew Vorderstrasse said is needed in the area. Compass House is an organization that provides help through a clubhouse model, where peers mentor each other.
“I believe we need more psychiatrists in particular,” said Vorderstrasse.
A psychiatrist is only one of the many mental health related positions currently open at Jackson County Mental Health. In fact 17 of the 38 open positions are related to mental health.
Rawlins said the need for mental health services continues to grow and they’re looking nationwide for qualified candidates to fill the positions. However, it’s taken time to find people who are qualified and willing to move to Southern Oregon.
It’s a problem that’s plagued the region for years, as many counties — including Jackson — are federally designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area.
“A mental health designation is based on the ratio of population to psychiatrists,” said Meadow Martell, a Shortage Designation Analyst for the Primary Care Office at the Oregon Office for Health Policy and Research.
A contributing factor to the shortage of psychiatrists in Southern Oregon is that many of them are choosing to stay in the bigger cities like Portland or San Francisco.
“I think that’s one of the most difficult positions to fill,” said Vorderstrasse.
But according to Martell, there is a positive side to being designated as a shortage area. She said alot of programs use the shortage areas to help determine where to allocate resources.
In addition, being designated as a shortage area means mental health professionals who decide to practice in the area can take advantage of the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.
“[It’s] one of the best recruitment retention tools we have,” said Martell.
Martell said for two years of service, the NHSC Loan Repayment Program will give the healthcare professional who chooses to work in a shortage area $25,000 per year to help pay off their student loans.
“That’s a big incentive,” Martell said.
Last year State Representative Peter Buckley said the 2013-2015 budget had the largest investment in mental health services in Oregon’s history. He recognized it’s not enough to fill the need, but said it’s a step in the right direction. While the additional funding is helpful, at this point Rawlins said it’s not funding that’s the issue, it’s getting the staff.
Until more people are hired, Vorderstrasse said it’s up to the community to help people who are struggling.
“I think oftentimes people do reach out even if it’s not verbal. It’s just, do we notice”
Rawlins said Jackson County Mental Health plans to hire a number of people and expand services over the next several months. Rawlins said they’re currently hiring for a number of positions that include a psychiatrist, mental health nurse, mental health specialist and mental health program manager.
County Mental Health Resources:
Jackson County Mental Health
Jackson County Mental Health
140 S. Holly St.
Medford, OR. 97501
541-774-8201 (24-Hours)
Hours – 7:45am-6pm on weekdays
http://jacksoncountyor.org/hhs/Mental-Health
Josephine County Mental Health
Options for Southern Oregon
Adult Services Hillside Center
1545 Harbeck Rd.
Grants Pass, OR. 97527
541-476-2373
Child Services Creekside Center
1181 SW Ramsey
Grants Pass, Or. 97527
541-476-2373
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 541-474-5360
http://www.optionsonline.org/
Klamath County Mental Health
Klamath Basin Behavioral Health
2210 Eldorado Ave.
Klamath Falls, OR. 97601
541-883-1030
Hours – 7:15am-6pm (Mon-Thurs), 7:15am-5pm (Fri)
http://www.kbbh.org/index.php
Curry County Mental Health
Curry Community Health – Mental Health/Addictions Program
29821 Colvin St.
Gold Beach, OR. 97444
541-373-8001
Hours – 8:30am-12pm, 1pm-5pm (Mon-Fri)
http://www.currych.org/mental-health-services
Siskiyou County Mental Health
Behavioral Health Services Division
North Campus Office
2060 Campus Drive
Yreka, CA. 96097
530-841-4100
Hours – 8am-5pm (Mon-Fri)
South County Office
1107 Ream Ave.
Mt. Shasta, CA. 96067
530-918-7200
Hours – 8am-5pm (Mon-Fri)
Siskiyou County 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-800-842-8979
http://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/content/behavioral-health-services-division
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