Mental Health Matters: What to know about Coastal Bend Day of Giving
It’s finally November, and I have my sights set on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Not just because of the election (I’m ready for that, too) but also for this year’s Coastal Bend Day of Giving. Area nonprofits apply to be part of a matching program, and foundations in the community match any donation to those nonprofits. It’s only 24 hours, but you can donate early. Last year, citizens came together to raise a matching fund of $1.3 million.
This is a huge deal for our community and something to be proud of. All the nonprofit participants are worthy and deserve each dollar raised. But this year I’m focusing on two — the Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, better known as MHID — and Family Counseling Service.
I’m not saying these organizations are better, but being a member of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Greater Corpus Christi, I’ve grown to know the workings of MHID and all it has to offer. We work closely with them as well as with CCPD Senior Officer Shawn Barnes who focuses on mental health calls and crisis intervention. NAMI plays a big role in training the police officers in crisis intervention. Just recently NAMI was able to fund Officer Barnes’ trip to a convention, and he came back with ideas that could change the way we deal with mental health crises. NAMI is honored to be a part of that.
It’s notable that MHID will create a jail diversion center, which will reduce unnecessary arrests and avoidable psychiatric hospitalizations. It will have 24-hour monitoring and provide access to psychiatric medication.
Now let’s talk about Family Counseling Service. I believe that (almost) everyone needs a therapist, and they do it all at Family Counseling Service: individual, family and couples therapy; parent education programs; crime victim services; play therapy for children.
In 2021 Family Counseling Service provided 8,508 hours of therapy to 4,094 children, adolescents and adults in its counseling program. Seventy-two percent of those teens experienced a decrease in anxiety symptoms, and 73 percent experienced a decrease in depression symptoms. Adults saw similar stats.
The agency’s Crime Victim Services program provided advocacy, case management and crisis intervention to 1,581 victims of violent crime.
That’s amazing! But what I want you to remember most about Family Counseling Service is that it provides these services on a sliding scale and offers assistance with high copays. The organization depends on community donors, and its services are obviously crucial.
NAMI, MHID and Family Counseling Service’s bottom line is the same: They just want to help those with mental health conditions, and they all do a good job.
Now it’s our time to give back to them.
So let’s pony up.
These organizations did not reach out to me for media exposure or donations. I chose to spotlight them due to my interest in mental health.
Although NAMI Greater Corpus Christi is not yet part of the Day of Giving, we do take donations on our website at www.namigcc.org
Coastal Bend Day of Giving
When: Tuesday, Nov. 8
Main donation site: www.coastalbenddayofgiving.org/
www.coastalbenddayofgiving.org/familycounseling
www.coastalbenddayofgiving.org/NCMHID
For more than 20 years, Heather Loeb has experienced major depression, anxiety and a personality disorder, while also battling the stigma of mental health. She is the creator of Unruly Neurons (www.unrulyneurons.com), a blog dedicated to normalizing depression and a member of state Rep. Todd Hunter’s Suicide Prevention Taskforce.
MIND MATTERS
Now more than ever we need to take care of our mental health. Guest columnist Heather Loeb discusses why and explores other important mental health topics in this special series.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: What to know about 2022 Coastal Bend Day of Giving
