Oak Ridge Today

Mental health program on Saturday to focus on early childhood trauma, brain development

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Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

 

Michael Yates of Ridgeview Behavioral Services will discuss Building Strong Brains—Tennessee’s ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Initiative on Saturday, August 5, at 10:30 a.m. It’s part of the free community mental health program series at Grace Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge. Yates’ presentation will focus on the effects of early childhood trauma on brain development, a press release said.

“Science indicates the structure of a young child’s brain is shaped by the interaction between genes and experience, and this can have a positive or negative result,” the press release said.

Science makes it clear that adverse childhood experiences can negatively impact the architecture of the developing brain, while children alternatively thrive in a safe, stable, nurturing environment of supportive families, caregivers, neighborhoods and communities, Yates said in the press release. [Read more…]

Kiwanis to learn more about Ridgeview on Tuesday

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Ridgeview-Behavioral-Health-Services

Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services (Screenshot from a video by Savanna Schubert)

 

Kiwanis members and friends will learn more about Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services on Tuesday.

Michael Yates, Ridgeview’s development director, will discuss Ridgeview’s facilities and services during a Kiwanis meeting at noon Tuesday, May 9, a press release said.

Ridgeview is a private, nonprofit community mental health center based in Oak Ridge that is committed to providing high-quality behavioral health services through prevention and treatment of mental illness and substance abuse, a press release said. [Read more…]

Crisis intervention training helps save life in Rocky Top

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Twenty law enforcement personnel graduated from Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT, training on March 10, 2017. The graduates represented Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Rocky Top Police Department, Anderson County Corrections Office, and Blount Memorial Security. (Submitted photo)

Twenty law enforcement personnel graduated from Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT, training on March 10, 2017. The graduates represented Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Rocky Top Police Department, Anderson County Corrections Office, and Blount Memorial Security. (Submitted photo)

 

Twenty law enforcement personnel graduated from Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT, training on March 10. The graduates represented Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Rocky Top Police Department, Anderson County Corrections Office, and Blount Memorial Security.

CIT is an innovative first-responder model of police-based crisis intervention with community, health care, and advocacy partnerships. CIT provides 40 hours of specialized training for problem solving and de-escalating crisis situations with individuals who have a mental illness. Studies show it also improves the safety of patrol officers, consumers, family members, and citizens within the community, a press release said.

“Thanks to the partnership between the Oak Ridge City Police Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Ridgeview Behavioral Health, NAMI Oak Ridge, the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee, and other community health advocates, our community has better equipped itself with first responders who have an effective set of communication and problem solving skills,” Oak Ridge Police Department Chief James Akagi said in his opening remarks.

So far, the East Tennessee Crisis Intervention Team has trained more than 180 law enforcement personnel, the press release said. [Read more…]

Ridgeview rep to discuss youth substance abuse on July 18

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Michael Yates

Michael Yates

Michael Yates, development director for Ridgeview Behavioral Services, will discuss youth substance abuse on Saturday, July 18, at Grace Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge.

The presentation is titled “Youth Substance Abuse—the Complex and Courageous Conversation.” It’s free and scheduled for Saturday, July 18, at Grace Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge. It starts at 10:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall, and it is hosted by the church’s Mental Health Ministry. Child care will be available, a press release said.

Yates will discuss risk factors that drive the misuse and use of substances, and offer information on how parents and communities might best respond to strengthen protective factors for youth and families, the press release said.

“Youth and adolescents turn to substance abuse for a number of reasons,” he said. “Some want to experiment with boundaries, some do so because of peer pressure, and others are trying to cope with unmanageable pain, suffering, or anxiety.” [Read more…]

Substance abuse the topic of Tuesday health lecture

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Melody Morris

Melody Morris

Substance abuse comes in many forms. It can be the abuse of legal substances, such as alcohol or prescription drugs, or it can be illegal, such as the abuse of marijuana, cocaine, or methamphetamine. And it affects more than just the person using the drugs. Substance abuse can break apart families, ruin personal relationships, and make it difficult to keep a job.

Learn more about substance abuse when Methodist Medical Center partners with Ridgeview Behavioral Health to discuss this important topic during Health Night on the Town on Tuesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. in the Ridge Conference Room of Methodist Medical Center, located at 990 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Staff from Ridgeview will discuss substance abuse and its co-occurring mental health issues as well as an innovative treatment for expectant mother’s who have used or are at risk of using drugs. [Read more…]