Our children are in crisis. The number of local kids held for 72 hours under the Baker Act—a last resort to protect someone from hurting themselves or others—to receive mental health treatment because of suicidal or violent thoughts jumped 26% in 1 year.
But there is reason for hope.
In a video produced by the David Lawrence Center, a Naples mental health treatment provider, Adrienne opens up about her daughter Chloe’s battle with depression and cutting.
“About 11 o’ clock at night, I got a call from Chloe’s best friend,” Adrienne said. “She said that Chloe had cut and she was unable to stop the bleeding. She had cut 30-something times on her leg and had gashing wounds.”
“I didn’t start cutting right away,” Chloe said. “It helped more as a release.”
Nancy Dauphinais is a licensed mental health counselor and leads operations at the David Lawrence Center where Chloe and her mom got help.
“Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death for individuals ages 10 to 24,” Dauphinais said. “DLC provides a comprehensive array of services. From inpatient, to outpatient to prevention-based to community services.”
The David Lawrence Center teaches one of the few effective treatments for suicide ideation.
It’s called dialectical behavior therapy.
“DBT is focused on four types of skills: emotional regulation, mindfulness training, distressed tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness,” Dauphinais said. “Teaching both the child and parent how to regulate feelings and effectively communicate.”
“The hardest part about—in hindsight—in dealing with my daughter’s depression, suicidal thoughts… self-harm, was not having the answers,” Adrienne said.
As the number of children in need of immediate help hits an all-time high, Chloe wants every child and parent out there to know help is available.
“Today, it’s a lot brighter, happier,” Chloe said. “And I have a new look on life.”
If you do know someone struggling, the National Suicide Prevention lifeline is (800) 273-8255.
The David Lawrence is one of 45 nonprofits that receives money from the Naples Children and Education Foundation. NCEF helped pay for DBT training for clinicians.
If you’d like to help organizations like DLC, tune into WINK News at 7 p.m. Saturday. We’re partnering with NCEF to host a 1-hour special. You can donate and learn how your dollars are saving children’s lives.
RESOURCES
Warning signs to look out for in your child:
- Isolation or refusal to attend school;
- Changes in eating habits;
- Withdrawal from peers or social activities;
- Withdrawal from extracurricular activities at school or in the community; and/or
- Reports of bullying, harassment, or intimidation in school, the community, or on social media.
SalusCare has a weekly zoom support group for parents. It’s free and you do not need to be a client. It’s Monday nights at 7. Zoom ID: 975 9545 3712 Password: 488302
SalusCare Emergency Services: 239-275-4242
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
Disaster Distress Helpline: www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline
Parent/Caregiver Guide for Helping Families Cope with COVID-19: www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/outbreak_factsheet_1.pdf
Smart Social: Monitor your kids online https://smartsocial.com/parental-control-software/
National Association of School Psychologist: School safety and crisis (PDF)
David Lawrence Center website for children
If you or a loved one are struggling, you can find support by visiting resources on the NAMI website.
For a comprehensive list of resources and organizations, you can visit This is My Brave.
For additional tools, including a treatment locator, you can visit the CDC’s mental health web page.
MORE RESOURCES
FGCU Community Counseling Center
https://www.fgcu.edu/mariebcollege/counseling/communitycounseling/
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Collier County
namicollier.org
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry counties
namilee.org
Lee Health – Behavioral Health
https://www.leehealth.org/our-services/behavioral-health
Lee Health Foundation’s – ‘Kids Minds Matter’
https://leehealthfoundation.org/kids-minds-matter
The National Alliance for Caregiving offers a free handbook
Circle of Care: A Guidebook for Mental Health Caregivers
Collier County Mental Health Court
ca.cjis20.org/home/collier
Lee County Mental Health Court
ca.cjis20.org/home/lee
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
convio.net
Local Support Groups: Anxiety and Depression Association of America
adaa.org
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help)
hhs.gov/programs/topic-sites/mental-health-parity
Southwest Florida Resource Link
http://www.swflresourcelink.com/services/mental-health–substance-abuse
Stop Now And Plan (SNAP)
https://www.lsfnet.org/family-crisis-counseling-and-childrens-mental-health-programs-available-to-southwest-families-during-pandemic/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
https://www.samhsa.gov/
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Talking to kids about suicide