A Comprehensive Solution-Based Approach

May is a month dedicated to both mental health awareness and maternal mental health awareness. Having a month dedicated to maternal mental health awareness provides an opportunity for individuals, communities, healthcare professionals and activists to engage in targeted conversation about the importance of maternal mental health and the urgent need to help perinatal and postpartum individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges. Maternal mortality rates are on the rise in the United States. The maternal mortality rate in the United States has increased by 12.8% from 2019 to 2021. [1] Both suicide and homicide are considered leading causes of death both during pregnancy and the postpartum period. [2]

In Colorado, the leading cause of death for maternal mortality is individuals dying by suicide and or unintentional overdose during pregnancy and the first year after giving birth.[3] Without necessary support and intervention, maternal mental health issues can lead to detrimental long-term outcomes such as impairing parent-infant bonding and limiting a child’s emotional development and ability to learn. As maternal mortality rates are rising, it is dire to address maternal mental health.

Centennial’s Maternal Mental Health Program

Centennial’s Maternal Mental Health Program was developed to address the expressed needs of our rural communities. . The program is dedicated to supporting the mental well-being of perinatal and postpartum individuals, their families and their care teams throughout Northeastern Colorado. Through a comprehensive, solution-based approach, Centennial combines medical expertise, maternal mental health consultation, therapeutic expertise, community engagements and targeted strategies to create an equitable continuum of care for those in need of maternal mental health services.

The Maternal Mental Health Program offers consultation services, which provide outreach to partner agencies and assist families experiencing perinatal and postpartum anxiety, depression and other mood disorders by connecting them to relevant resources that they need in order to feel supported and cared for. The Maternal Mental Health Consultant partners with local hospitals, OB Clinics, Baby Bear Hugs, Nurse-Family Partnership and Early Childhood Councils to provide outreach and cross-system services. The integration with existing community services allows the opportunity for perinatal individuals to receive mental health care and referrals for their specific needs. The program’s seamless referral pathway ensures that individuals receive a timely and coordinated transition from both external and internal services.

The program's clinician provides screening, individual and group therapeutic treatment services to help ensure optimal health outcomes. The screenings effectively identify mental health challenges through the use of evidence-based tools. They allow issues to be identified early and for individuals to receive the proper support, which can lead to better outcomes and improved well-being.

When an individual experiences maternal mental health challenges, it can be overwhelming knowing where to start to seek out information and support, especially with the influx of information on the internet. To ensure that individuals and families receive reliable information and resources, the team developed a mental health support bag, which is given to clients and partner agencies. The maternal mental health support bags include self-care items, baby items a “Mindful MOMents” journal and educational resources.

The “Mindful MOMents” journal was created by the program's consultant and team to help individuals in the perinatal period understand mental health symptoms and provide them with tools and resources. Journaling is known to help improve mental health and overall well-being, as well as help navigate complex feelings. The “Mindful MOMents” journal includes:

• Letters to the mom and their partner
• Cards that can be cut out to give to family and friends that indicate they are experiencing postpartum symptoms but are not ready to talk about it yet
• A self-care plan
• Journal prompts
• An activities section with coloring pages, a word search, maze and calendar
• Feeling faces to help track patterns of their feelings and can be taken to their physician, counselor, or psychiatrist
• A contact section
• A directory of resources within Centennial's 10 counties, state, national and international levels

Centennial is committed to improving and promoting the mental well-being of perinatal and postpartum individuals, infants and families by providing specialty support that is culturally and linguistically competent. To learn more about the Center’s Maternal Mental Health please call your local Centennial office.

[1] Katella, “Maternal Mortality IS on the Rise: 8 Things to Know.” Yale Medicine, 2023, https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/maternal-mortality-on-the-rise

[2] Katella, “Maternal Mortality IS on the Rise: 8 Things to Know.” Yale Medicine, 2023, https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/maternal-mortality-on-the-rise

[3] Okoloko, “Preventing Maternal Mortality Requires Attention to Mental Health – and the Factors That Lead to Disparities.” Colorado Health Institute, November 8, 2021, https://www.coloradohealthinstitute.org/blog/preventing-maternal-mortality-requires-attention-mental-health-and-factors-lead-disparities

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, which focuses on raising awareness and understanding of alcohol misuse. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious effects, including quality of life and physical and mental health.

How Alcohol Affects Mental Health

Substance use disorders can be described as harmful habits involving alcohol or other substances that lead to significant disruption in daily life, which decrease functioning and cause considerable distress. Substance use disorders affect an individual's thoughts, emotions, behaviors, appearance and well-being. Well-supported scientific evidence shows that addiction to alcohol or drugs is a chronic brain disease with a course that includes relapse and potential for recovery (Kelly, Saitz & Wakeman, 2016). The brain is still developing until age 26, and substance use can interfere with healthy brain development.

Alcohol is often used to try to decrease symptoms of depression or anxiety, but excessive drinking is likely to make those symptoms worse. People with substance use disorders are likely to have co-occurring mental health challenges. Of the 18.3% of adults ages 18+ of experience mental illness, 3.4% have both a substance use disorder and a mental illness (Hartz et al., 2014). Many people use alcohol or other drugs to “self-medicate” in hopes of reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or psychosis. Alcohol can result in intensified feelings of anxiety, depression and anger, inhibit the use of effective coping strategies, and increase the chance of a person acting on suicidal or self-injury feelings.

Seeking Treatment 

Substance use disorders are treatable. With research-based treatments, individuals can stop using alcohol and resume productive lives. If alcohol has started interfering with your quality of life, it is time to seek help. Seeking treatment for Alcohol use disorder is not easy, but it is brave and necessary to live a happy, healthy life. Recovery is possible with the proper support and resources. SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-622-HELP (4357), is a confidential, free, 24-hour service for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. The hotline refers individuals to local facilities, support groups and community-based organizations. Additionally, SAMSHA has an online treatment locator that can help find a treatment facility for people based on the provided zip code. Individuals can call or text 988, a national suicide and crisis lifeline, if crisis support is needed for themselves or their loved ones. No matter the location in the United States, by texting 988, individuals can be connected to a caring, trained counselor who can help.

Centennial Mental Health Center offers Substance Use Disorder treatment throughout Northeast Colorado in a variety of locations. Centennial’s specialists are dedicated to supporting individuals on their paths to addiction recovery through care plans that meet their specific needs. Additionally, Centennial’s prevention team works with schools to teach children and teenagers about the dangers of underage drinking.

Centennial's Substance Abuse Disorder Services include:

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills (DBT)
• Level II Education
• Level II Therapy
• Minors in Possession Treatment
• Relapse Prevention
• Specialized Women's Treatment
• Special Connections
• Strategies for Self-Improvement and Change
• Seeking Safety Group
• Sober Living Facilities
• UA Monitoring
• Level 4+
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (Suboxone) for Opioid Dependency

For more information on Centennial’s Substance Use Disorder Services, please call your local Centennial office.

Week of the Young Child

What is Week of the Young Child?

The Week of the Young Child, a significant event sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), is celebrated annually. This year, it will be observed from April 6th to 12th. The Week of the Young Child draws public attention to the needs of young children (birth through age eight) and their families, acknowledging the early childhood programs and services that cater to these needs. It serves as a platform to raise community awareness and strategize how we, as individuals and communities, can better meet the needs of all young children and their families.

Why is early childhood development important?

The early years of a child’s life are not just a phase, but a transformative period that lays the foundation for their health and future development. These early experiences are not fleeting moments, but powerful opportunities that shape the development of the brain. This understanding of the transformative power of early childhood development should inspire us all to prioritize and invest in it.

Who Plays a Role?

Children look up to a variety of role models to influence how they behave. Every individual the child interacts with can influence how they think, behave and operate. Parents, educators, coaches, peers and policymakers are just some of the individuals who play a vital role in children's development.

Parents and caregivers

For many children, the most important role models are their parents and caregivers. Children look up to a variety of role models to help shape how they behave at home, in school, in relationships and in stressful/difficult situations. Parents/caregivers are the first “teachers” for their children. From birth, children rely on their caregivers for the care and support needed to live a happy and healthy life. Early interactions have a long-lasting ripple effect on development from the early childhood stages through adulthood. Caregivers' attitudes toward parenting and the practices that follow can create a foundation for the child to live a healthy life. All individuals in a child’s life can continue to grow and further develop their knowledge regarding the factors that can lead to their children living a healthy life. Reading educational articles about childhood development and parenting practices can help establish a foundation to build upon and increase caregiver knowledge of what aspects help create a healthy childhood.

Ways caregivers can encourage the healthy development of young children include:

• Follow the child’s lead and responding in a predictable way
• Showing compassion and sensitivity
• Have a consistent routine and rules
• Support health and safety
• Respond appropriately
• Discuss positive role models and what they look like
• Read parenting and early childhood development resources

Peers

Children's social world expands beyond their family and caregivers. As they grow, they form unique relationships with peers that significantly influence their development. During the early childhood stages, children acquire skills such as assertiveness, conflict management, social competence, respect, and play, largely through interactions with their peers. Peers can play a significant role in a child's later development, both positively and negatively.

Educators

Early educators use practices that build upon children’s established brain connections and support the further construction of knowledge. The educational experience young children receive from birth until age eight plays a crucial role in their development and influences their future. Early childhood educators help children build academic, social, motor and life skills.

Roles of an early childhood educator that promotes healthy development include:

• Incorporate social connections
• Create hands-on learning experiences
• Inspire and motivate
• Encourage creativity and self-expression
• Teach self-care
• Provide a positive, supportive learning environment

Policymakers

Policymakers can set the foundation for healthy development and well-being throughout life. Social determinants of health shape how one grows, lives, works and plays from the earliest stages of life. Systemic inequalities and access to basic needs affect a child's development and can have lasting consequences. Creating robust and equitable programs and support systems that account for social determinants can create a path toward healthy childhood development.

How Centennial’s Early Childhood Team Encourages Healthy Development

Centennial’s Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation program focuses on the target population of very young children from ages 0-5. The program promotes children’s social, emotional and behavioral aspects of their development when consulting with providers, and offers education and support that is specifically developed for caregivers of very young children. By promoting young children’s healthy development, the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation team works to enhance the quality of lives for individuals, families and communities.

More to Come

We all play an important role in the development of children. We are excited to share more information with you throughout the week to celebrate our youngest members in our communities. Keep an eye on our social media this week for links to helpful information, fun activities and more!