On Thursday, Aug. 18, Yavapai County Community Health Services shared information about the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and additional community health information at “Coffee with the County” in the Cottonwood Public Library.
From 9 a.m. to noon, YCCHS educators Carla Hover and Katherine Sirimarco awaited visitors in the library’s conference room, where pots of freshly-brewed coffee and light snacks were placed among a variety of community health information material.
“We present the material to people as they come through,” Hover said. “We don’t get groups of people so much as we get two or three at a time.”
Some of the material included various health tips such as stress management and ways to get physically active, nutrition education and children’s immunization information.
“That’s a big push right now because the kids are getting back in school, some of whom need the vaccines to be up to date,” Hover said.
Also available were free COVID-19 tests, naloxone nasal spray — an emergency opioid overdose treatment known by its brand name Narcan — and Deterra drug deactivation systems, which use activated charcoal technology to dispose of unused medications.
“It’s one of my biggest pushes to get Narcan to anybody that needs it,” Sirimarco said. “I teach [Community Health Education] classes and we give away the boxes.”
YCCHS’ Community Health Education classes are offered as either community-based or school-based programs.
Some of the programs include Chronic Disease Self-Management, Worksite Wellness, RX Drug Misuse and Abuse, Smoke Free Arizona, Self-Esteem & Goal Setting, Sexual Health and more.
Additionally, Hover said that YCCHS offers a variety of health services at its Community Health Centers in Cottonwood and Prescott.
According to the Community Health Center of Yavapai website, services include behavioral health, dental, family planning, medical care, pediatrics, telehealth and women’s health services.
The health centers offer a sliding-scale payment system, and some of the programs are covered by Medicare insurance.
“We have a couple of really great nurse practitioners and a doctor,” Hover said. “Basically, people can call and make an appointment to let them know what the sliding scale fee would be for the services they want.”
For more information about the health centers visit chcy.org
For more information about YCCHS programs, visit healthyyavapai.com
988 Suicide Lifeline
In June, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is now available nationwide.
SAMHSA stated that moving to 988 will not replace The Lifeline, a national network number 1 (800) 273-8255 but it will be an easier way to access a strengthened and expanded network of crisis call centers.
“988 is more than just an easy-to-remember number — it is a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health related distress — whether that is thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress,” SAMHSA said.
Hover said that while 988 is now fully operational, “There’s never enough mental health services.”
Hover added that in addition to the 988 service, local resources are also available, including CHCY’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practicioner Mirandine Fitchette, who is now accepting new patients at both CHCY locations.
Fitchette’s psychiatric services include evaluations and medication management for adults, adolescents and children as young as 6 years old.
“We are able to treat disorders on the autism spectrum, anxiety and non-anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, personality disorders, psychotic disorders and other mental health concerns through pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions,” CHCY stated.
Fitchette has more than 15 years of experience in the medical field and holds a masters of science in nursing and doctor of nursing practices degree from the University of Arizona at Tucson. She also speaks multiple languages, including English, French, Haitian Creole and Spanish.
“I feel fortunate to be part of Community Health Center of Yavapai and to help those struggling with emotional or mental health challenges,” Fitchette stated.
To schedule an appointment, call CHCY Cottonwood at (928) 639-8132 or CHCY Prescott and Prescott Valley at (928) 583-1000.
