Bluestem Health Ensures Mental Health Services Are Accessible To All

The need for mental health services has never been greater. Whether a person is struggling with emotional or psychological challenges, mental health affects every aspect of our daily lives. It determines how you respond to stressful situations and how you feel about something or someone. We deal with mental health through all stages of life. That’s why Bluestem Health in Lincoln, Nebraska is making it a priority to ensure that mental health services are accessible to anyone in the Lincoln community.

What are the Causes and Impact of Mental Illness?

You may not know that mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, statistics indicate that:

• More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness.
• Over 1 in 5 youth, ages 13-18, either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.
• About 1 in 25 U.S. adults lives with a serious mental illness.

Your mental and physical health go hand-in-hand when it comes to your overall well-being. One affects the other. One example of this is depression. It can increase your risk for having chronic health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Having a chronic health condition can increase your risk for mental health problems.

There is not one single cause of most mental illnesses. The more risk factors a person has, the more likely they may develop a mental health condition. Factors that can contribute to mental health problems include:

• Family genetics
• Trauma or history of abuse
• Challenges of dealing with chronic health conditions
• Misuse of alcohol or drugs
• Financial problems
• Homelessness
• Social issues
• Ongoing stress

When Should You Talk to a Mental Health Professional?

Some days you just don’t feel yourself and that’s normal. Excessive worry, persistent behaviors, and other symptoms may indicate that it is time to speak with a mental health professional. Here are some warning signs in adults that may suggest it’s time to seek help.

• Experience extreme sadness
• Long periods of feeling angry or irritable
• Overcome with worrying every day
• Confusion or having difficulty concentrating
• Change in sleeping pattern
• Avoidance of family and friends
• Perception of reality is altered
• Thinking about suicide

Find Accessible Mental Health Services

At Bluestem Health, we’re committed to making mental health services accessible to anyone in Lincoln. Our integrated model of care includes Behavioral Health Therapists who work closely with our Family Medicine providers in assessing and developing a treatment plan that works for the patient. Working together, our behavioral health team continually communicates with the patient’s primary care provider through all aspects of treatment.

Whole-person healthcare is Bluestem Health’s top priority. Our behavioral health professionals allow us to treat psychiatric concerns and connect all areas of health in a person’s life. Our goal is to provide behavioral health services to all demographics, genders, and cultures.

If you feel that your mental health is changing due to some of the reasons listed above, we encourage you to speak with your Bluestem Health primary care provider. Our providers and therapists are ready to meet you where you are and get you the help you need. Call Bluestem Health at 402-476-1455.