TOLEDO- The Kent Branch Library recently hosted a town meeting where mental health experts answered questions and listened to community concerns. Individuals spoke directly with mental health professionals about what they need from their services.
The meeting was moderated by Betina Layson, equity manager of MHRSB (Mental Health and Recovery Services Board), and Scott Slyak, community executive director of MHRSB.
The panel of mental health experts included Lynette Hair, executive director of Neighborhood Properties; Dr. Anthony Bouyer, New Concepts therapist; David Nalls, founder of Reconciliation Recovery Unlimited; Laura Gipson, community relations director for Team Recovery; and Jacob Spellis, CEO of Vital Health.
The main topic was about the importance of harm reduction, stigma reduction, and community collaboration to support recovery and prevent substance abuse. The town hall meeting also focused on resources and support for mental health and substance use recovery in Lucas County.
Bouyer started off the meeting explaining how to identify if a loved one is involved with a substance.
“First thing you do is look at what kind of behaviors have started to change, and you may start seeing stroke reactions with, for example, cocaine use. You may start to see those who appear to be angry, particularly when they’re under the influence,” Bouyer said.
“We never give up on our patients,” Spellis added.
Slyak asked the panel what strategies could be used to reduce the stigma around substance use disorders.
“We can work across organizations to provide comprehensive support and resources, making it easier for individuals to access help without fear of judgment,” said Gipson.
Hair highlighted the various aspects of recovery, including social security assistance, job applications, and community involvement.
“The services we provide are to help people who are recovering from homelessness, recovering from traumas, recovering from mental health, [and] substance abuse,” she said.
Slyak asked what recovery meant to each of the panelists.
Spellis explained that recovery is about living the life you want without being affected by substances, emphasizing personal freedom and self-direction.
“To me, recovery means living life on your own terms,” Spellis said.
Nalls talked about the questions one could ask when someone is in the recovery stage.
“What type of recovery am I looking to gain? Do I want to gain recovery that’s just simply going through the motions? Or do I want to live a recovery, a recovered life where I’m actually doing my recovery?” Nalls said.
Bouyer added that recovery is about living the life you want without being affected by substances.
“Recovery means having the freedom and support to direct your own journey, recognizing that each individual’s path and definition of success will be unique,” he said.
Gipson said, aside from her work at Team Recovery, she is also a part of the Sylvania Chamber and Toledo Chamber.
“My background is in substance use disorders, mental health, geri psych, behaviors like dementia and Alzheimer’s,” Gipson said.
Gipson has worked with the sober and recovery population for over ten years.
“I started out as an STNA (State Tested Nursing Assistant) and while I did that, I went to school and then got my nursing license,” Gipson said.
There are multiple factors that lead some individuals to not being able to get the mental health services that they need.
“Individuals, a lot of the time, don’t have the ability to come and go the way they would like to, but they also don’t have the funds in order to call an Uber or a Lyft,” Gipson said.
Gipson said that another barrier is insurance coverage.
“We at Team Recovery only help the population that are Medicaid eligible currently,” Gipson said.
Betina Layson, health equity manager of mental health and recovery services, said that this was their second meeting specifically talking about mental health.
“We had our first meeting on Aug. 8 of this year, but the meeting today [on Sept. 22] mainly focused on mental health and recovery,” Layson said.
Layson said she is always looking for feedback from the community on what should be talked about at town hall meetings.
The Crisis Care Helpline for the Zepf Center is 419-904-2273 and the harm reduction text line is 419-232-6555.
