Northwest Healthcare’s Behavioral Health Unit at Oro Valley Hospital Helps Patients from All Walks of Life
8/3/2022
One in every five people struggles with a mental health issue that affects their quality of life. Northwest Healthcare is committed to providing the care these patients need at Oro Valley Hospital’s inpatient behavioral health unit (BHU).
Adult patients voluntarily come to the BHU – a safe, compassionate environment with experienced, specialized mental healthcare providers – from throughout Arizona. They may be suffering from depression, anxiety, mood and sleep disorders, or other complex conditions (some left untreated or worsened due to lack of access to in-person mental healthcare during the pandemic).
Patients at the BHU participate in therapy, get help with medication management, receive education about their condition, and use other tools to manage their illness. Afterwards, they receive follow-up care coordination with outside providers to support them in the transition back to independent living. Because each patient’s circumstances are so different, caregivers at the BHU take an individualized approach.
“We’re like detectives,” said Shawna Beckman, director of social services. “We try to figure out what each person has been through, and how we can help them to be successful and start enjoying life to the fullest again.”
People don’t have to live with untreated mental illness – but the stigma surrounding it can discourage them from seeking treatment, said Jason Robinson, the BHU’s director of nursing.
“Anyone can struggle with a mental health issue, no matter what walk of life they’re from,” he said. “We want people to understand that asking for help for this kind of illness is the same as asking for help for a broken arm.”
The National Alliance on Mental Illness confirms this stigma. According to the NAMI website:
- People experiencing mental health conditions often face rejection, bullying and discrimination. This can make their journey to recovery longer and more difficult.
- Mental health conditions are the leading cause of disability across the United States.
- Even though most people can be successfully treated, less than half of the adults in the U.S. who need services and treatment get the help they need.
- The average delay between the onset of symptoms and intervention is 8-10 years.
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death of youth ages 15-24 and the tenth leading cause of death for all Americans.
Each and every day, Northwest Healthcare cares for those who are struggling – and encourages them to get and stay healthy in both mind and body.
To learn more about our BHU, visit healthiertucson.com/behavioral-health-services.
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