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Four Rivers Behavioral Health Offers Options to Clients in Wake of COVID-19 Outbreak

Press Release

Four Rivers Behavioral Health Offers Options to Clients in Wake of COVID-19 Crisis

PADUCAH, KY – Out of an abundance of caution for our consumers, as well as staff, FRBH has been following and will continue to follow guidelines set forth by Governor Beshear’s Office and the CDC.

“We know our services are important to the communities we serve and we are committed to continue to provide those services while maintaining safety for our consumers and staff” said Terry Hudspeth, Chief Executive Officer for Four Rivers Behavioral Health.

FRBH’s offices will remain open for regular appointments with therapists and physicians. The Zone Teen Drop-In Center and Turning Point, FRBH’s Substance Abuse Recovery Community Center, will be open however, group activities will not be offered at this time.

Our Children’s Partial Hospitalization Program (which operates on the same schedule as the McCracken County School System) will not be held for the time period recommended by Governor Beshear. However, students can still receive individual counseling and family counseling.

Family visits for substance use disorder residents at CenterPoint Recovery Center for Men and at the Fuller Center Residential Treatment Center have already been suspended.

FRBH encourages people who may be feeling ill, especially with a cough or fever, to reschedule their appointment. FRBH staff has implemented social distancing (keeping a distance of at least 6 feet) as well as increasing cleaning and disinfecting efforts and frequencies. The agency is encouraging clients to check in with reception and then to wait for their appointment outside or in their car if possible. Staff will contact them on their cell phone to let clients know they are ready for their appointment.

Creative Enterprises Day Training Program for those with an Intellectual or Developmental Disability will operate as normal in both Paducah and Mayfield. Extra precautions are in place including additional cleaning, social distancing and additional client screening including questions, temperature checks and other precautions.

Case Managers in various programs who usually meet with clients in their homes will continue to contact people on their case load. However, Case Managers will not enter a home unless absolutely necessary. Clients will be asked to step outside or will be contacted by phone in lieu of a home visit.

Gretchen Roof, Vice President of Clinical Services said, “Regular therapy appointments for adults and children at our Paducah office, our William H. Fuller Memorial Campus in Mayfield and the Lakes Center office in Murray, as well as appointments with FRBH’s psychiatrists and nurse practitioners, won’t be cancelled.

We want our consumers to use common sense and their best judgement. If they are at higher risk for infection or just aren’t comfortable coming to the office, they can contact us and we will do our best to provide alternate services.”

FRBH’s offices in Paducah, Mayfield and Murray also will be open for walk-in consumers experiencing an emergency.

The agency’s 24-hour Crisis Line will remain open and staff will be available for calls. In addition, FRBH Peer Support Specialists will be available to talk to individuals who may have feelings of anxiety, depression or social isolation.

FRBH’s onsite Genoa Pharmacies at the Paducah and Mayfield offices will be open. Prescriptions also can be sent to the patient’s homes by mail if requested.

“We realize changes, as well as fears of the unknown, can create or heighten anxiety for both our regular consumers as well as those who may have never sought mental health care. In those cases, there are things you can do to mitigate that anxiety,” said Roof.

According to Roof, the first step to easing anxiety is to recognize the difference between a general unease and what would be considered clinical anxiety. In general, Anxiety Disorder includes stress that’s out of proportion to the impact of the event or an inability to set aside a worry. Anxiety often presents as panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder or an inability to be at ease. Other signs of anxiety may include: fatigue, restlessness, sweating, hyper-vigilance or irritability, and racing or unwanted thoughts.

To help curb those symptoms, Roof suggested trying to identify your thoughts and why you are upset and then consider writing down and reviewing reasonable responses to those thoughts. You also may do something simple that usually makes you feel good like taking a bath, listening to music or going for a walk.

Roof said, “The most important thing is to not let anxiety control your actions and if you feel like you can’t control your behavior or may be thinking about harming yourself or someone else – seek help. Call our Crisis Line at 800.592.3980 or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Room.”

In the coming week, FRBH staff will be working to contact the agency’s consumers by phone to ensure they are okay and to determine the best way to continue their treatment. Staff also will offer support to those who are uneasy or exhibiting increased signs of stress and anxiety.

Hudspeth said, “Each and every one of our clients is important and we want to meet them where they are, so to speak. So, we will be working to contact them and determine what works best for them and their situation.”

FRBH encourages people to call the agency’s main phone number at 270.442.7121 or toll free at 800.592.3980. Up-to-date information also will be available on the company’s website at www.4rbh.org and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FourRiversBH.

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Four Rivers Behavioral Health is a private, not-for-profit community mental health agency that for more than 50 years has provided comprehensive mental health, substance abuse and developmental/intellectual disability services to clients in Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, McCracken, and Marshall Counties.

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