By Shannon Higbee, CEO and COO of Recovery Options Made Easy
Recovery Options Made Easy (Recovery Options) is a nationally recognized non-profit organization located in Erie County that provides exemplary peer-driven mental health crisis services. Recovery Options’ unique care and treatment model was conceived by the late Kirsten Vincent PhD, LMHC, NYCPS, CPMC, the agency’s former Chief Executive Officer. Vincent developed the first mental health crisis respite program in Erie County after recognizing the overwhelming need for person-centered mental health crisis services as an alternative to care available at a hospital emergency department. She also understood the need for multiple services in one location.
The need for mental health services has reached epidemic proportions as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Many of us have seen family and friends experience mental health challenges. Many have not known where to seek help or how to navigate an often confusing and overwhelming system, turning to already overwhelmed hospital ERs. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention estimates that there were 1.38 million suicide attempts in 2019 alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control, as of June 2020, more than 40 percent of U.S. adults reported having struggled with mental health or substance use.
Recovery Options’ is particularly proud to offer hope and non-hospital emergency care and treatment for patients requiring mental health services through the creation of the Kirsten Vincent Respite and Recovery Renewal Center (Renewal Center). The center is being planned in order to accommodate the unique needs of individuals and families experiencing a mental health crisis through combining clinical and peer-based approaches to health crisis stabilization that will help avert a future crisis. Most importantly, it will offer a multitude of services through one location that is not located in a hospital.
The Recovery Renewal Center is being developed in cooperation with Western New York Independent Living’s Mental Health Peer Connection Center; Spectrum Health & Human Services’ urgent care satellite ; Refreshing Water Respite (a peer-run short-term crisis respite that provides 24-hour peer support for up to 28 days); and Restful Rivers Intensive Respite (a peer-run intensive crisis respite that provides 24-hour peer, nursing, and psychiatric support for up to 28 days ).
Recovery Options’ strong track record of providing crisis respite services in Erie County includes a 95 percent hospital diversion rate over the last five years. Now, more than ever, the need for mental health support and treatment continues to grow. For those who require even more support than existing respite options can provide, but do not meet admission criteria for inpatient hospital care, this intensive crisis respite model will fill an increasingly widening gap. The Erie County Legislature and the Erie County Department of Mental Health have committed to partially funding the center’s development, and site renovations are expected to begin soon. Now, Recovery Options is calling upon the community to assist with funding and furnishing the Center’s completion. Learn more and consider making a donation this holiday season at https://recoveryoptionsny.org.
