Uncategorized – Page 4

November 4, 2020

New Food Pantry Location!

CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank is excited to announce the opening a second Food Bank location in the Pepperwood Plaza in the South District of Iowa City. This new location at 1045 Highway 6 East in Iowa City will provide a larger space for clients, volunteers and staff to practice social distancing. With the opening of the new site, CommUnity plans to return to “client choice,” which is a service model that allows clients to select all of their own items. This will better meet each individual’s unique dietary needs and decrease food waste that can occur with providing pre-packaged bags of food. The option to enter the building will be especially important as we enter the winter months, providing a warm and safe atmosphere while clients shop.

The new location will open on November 9, 2020.

Hours of operation:
Monday: 12pm to 4:30pm
Tuesday: 12pm to 7pm
Wednesday: 12pm to 4:30pm
Thursday: 9:30am to 4:30pm
Friday: 12pm to 4:30pm
Saturday: 9:30am to 2pm

Click here for more information.

September 18, 2020

Becca’s Crisis Intervention Volunteer Story

By Grace Basler, Communications Intern

Like most college students, Becca started this school year amid the uncertainty of a hybrid in-person and virtual learning environment. Going into her senior year, Becca is studying Neuroscience and Russian. On a typical day, you might also find her playing the piano, drawing and creating art, playing video games, or spending time with her recently adopted beagle-hound mix. But that’s not all, one night every week you can also find Becca volunteering with CommUnity as a Crisis Intervention volunteer.

Becca began as a Crisis Intervention counselor in December of 2018 while looking for opportunities to volunteer in Iowa City. After struggling with her own mental health, and having known people that have had thoughts of suicide, Becca felt called to help others. She enjoys the opportunity to be there for people who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

“[Crisis Intervention] is something I wanted to help people with because I know what it’s like to not have somebody when going through hard times,” Becca said.

Volunteering in Crisis Intervention has made Becca more aware of the different crises that people around her could be going through, and how to talk to people in those situations. Becca said that she has become more empathetic due to her Crisis Intervention training and volunteer involvement.

Becca’s experience answering online chat messages has sparked a passion in her to advocate for making mental health resources available for everyone. Becca said that it can be frustrating to hear from clients who cannot afford resources such as meeting with therapists.

“I want resources to be more available so that’s definitely something that has grown since I started [volunteering],” Becca said.

Not only is Becca passionate about mental health, but she is passionate about healthcare overall, including healthcare policy and accessibility. She also has an enthusiasm for advocacy and science education.

For those who are struggling with their mental health, Becca wants everyone to know that she understands it can be hard or scary to reach out for help. If you are even considering it, she encourages you to reach out via crisis call, chat, or text.

“At least trying to get help is better than not getting any help. Just the fact that you are even thinking about getting help means that you want to get better; you’re just scared which is totally normal,” Becca said.

If you are considering volunteering in Crisis Intervention, Becca said it’s probably a good thing if it feels scary because it’s a sign that you care enough to want to do a good job. It’s natural to have some doubts about whether you are saying the right thing, but there is a lot of practice and plenty of support from excellent supervisors that help you ensure you’re prepared before taking your first solo call. Becca said that in the end, receiving feedback that you’ve helped a caller makes it all worth it.

Here at CommUnity, we are very thankful for volunteers like Becca that help make our Crisis Intervention services possible. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering in Crisis Intervention, you can visit builtbycommunity.org/volunteer/.

If you or somebody you know needs to talk, we’re here to listen.
Call or text 1-855-325-4296
Chat at IowaCrisisChat.org

September 4, 2020

Connecting through Crisis Intervention

By Grace Basler, Communications Intern

In the summer of 2015, Sean was introduced to CommUnity through a friend who was a Crisis Intervention volunteer. He thought that volunteering in Crisis Intervention sounded interesting, but originally put off becoming a volunteer because he didn’t know if he could make time for the training. Eventually, however, Sean decided to commit to becoming a Crisis Intervention volunteer. Ever since, he has volunteered once a week at CommUnity.

Unlike many of our Crisis Intervention volunteers, Sean didn’t have any direct ties to suicide or any personal connections to mental health crisis. Instead, Sean simply knew he wanted to find a way to help people in his community and he knew that helping people work through crisis situations would do just that. Sean said that volunteering in Crisis Intervention helps him directly see the impact he’s making, whereas other volunteer opportunities, while important, may be more abstract and not offer that direct contact with the person you are helping.

“This position really allows you to have that direct one-on-one connection and you have a chance to try to really help somebody and be there for them,” Sean said.

Currently, Sean works at the University of Iowa as a communications specialist with the Reading Research Center. He enjoys running, attending sporting events, and watching them on TV. In connection with the university’s Dance Marathon organization, Sean has run the Chicago marathon for the past seven years, raising money for the Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

After volunteering in Crisis Intervention for five years, Sean’s experiences have impacted his life and how he views mental health in his community.

“I don’t think that you can provide this service and not be changed by it,” Sean said. “The way that I talk to people and try to help people in my own personal life, friends, family members, people that I work with, the approach that I take to try to help people through a tough time has completely changed because of this experience.”

Sean has learned that simply listening can be one of the best ways to be there for people. He said that it’s natural to want to fix everyone’s problems, but unless you’re in their shoes you can’t fix it for them. This is a tough thing to admit since more than anything you want to make their problems go away.

“You’re going to have a much greater impact if you can help them work through the problem by listening and telling them that you care about them and letting them know that somebody understood them and heard them,” Sean said.

Sean wants people to know that it is okay to not be okay, and that the Crisis Intervention volunteers are not going to judge them. Sean and all of our volunteers are here to listen, and do what they can to help people get through their crisis.

“There are people out there who care about you even if they don’t know you yet,” Sean said.

For those who are considering volunteering in Crisis Intervention, Sean’s advice is simple: do it. Sean said that it’s natural to be hesitant, but remember that there is comprehensive training from people who really know what they’re doing.

“CommUnity does a really great job of getting you ready before you take that first solo call, so you know that you’re going to be prepared,” Sean said.

If you or someone you know are struggling with your mental health, we’re here to listen.

Call or text 855-325-4296
Chat at IowaCrisisChat.org

If you are interested in becoming a Crisis Intervention volunteer, please visit builtbycommunity.org/volunteer/ for more information.

February 26, 2020

Mental Health Resources

Due to a recent suicide death that impacted many young people and families in our community, we want to share the resources we offer to support those affected by this loss.

Support Groups
The Coping with Suicide Loss Support Group meets the 1st Thursday of each month at 7pm in the 1105 Project building.

Crisis Phone/Chat/Text
CommUnity’s crisis line is available 24/7 at 1-855-325-4296. CommUnity’s chat and text services are available at IowaCrisisChat.org from 9am-2am central time. Between the hours of 2am and 9am central, you can chat with The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Counselors are available to talk about grief, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, and other feelings that have come up as a result of this event.

Mobile Crisis Outreach
Our Mobile Crisis Outreach team is available 24/7/365 to respond to mental health crises in the community. Our counselors can be dispatched to homes, schools, emergency rooms, or public places where a mental health crisis is occurring.

What’s it like to use CommUnity’s services?
Last year, we had almost 9,000 contacts with people under the age of 19. Roughly 75% of those contacts had to do with suicide. Whatever struggle you’re going through, we want you to know that you’re not alone and that we’re here to listen.

Here is some of the feedback left by two of those teenagers who used Iowa Crisis Chat:

“My chat specialist was really understanding and made me feel like I’m not going through this alone… and this one chat may have prevented something that I thought was a solution.” ~ Anonymous 15-year-old

“My chat partner was amazing I get comfortable and she helped me and didn’t judge me and I think that I’m going to speak out and be more open with my parents about things. She really did help me.” ~ Anonymous 14-year-old

We are always in search of additional caring volunteers to help provide this service and make sure that we can reach even more young people. You can learn more about volunteering here.

Contacting a crisis line can seem intimidating. And while each call is different, the best thing to remember is what they have in common: no pressure, no judgment, and an open space to share whatever you need to.

Here are some FAQ’s to give a sense of what it’s like to call the crisis line:

Who answers my call?

When you call, someone with at least 60 hours of crisis counseling training will answer. Some are staff, but the majority of counselors are volunteers. They will introduce themselves right away, and if you feel comfortable, you can share your name as well. (If not, you can remain anonymous!)

How do I know I won’t be judged?

Empathy is the defining characteristic of our phone calls. When you call the crisis line, you are speaking to a human equal, who has no agenda other than listening and offering support. But if you’re still feeling tentative about using a crisis line, you’re not alone. If you feel uncomfortable calling, reach out to us online or with a text to 1-855-325-4296!

Should I only call in an emergency?

This is one of the most common questions, and the answer is an absolute no: you can call or chat our crisis lines any time at all. Stressed out? Not sure if you’re going to make rent? Worried about a friend? Even if you aren’t contemplating suicide, we understand wanting someone to listen without judgment. That’s what we’re here for.

Do I have to talk?

Not at all. As a matter of fact, you can text our line at any time, or reach out to our online chat at iowacrisichat.org. Our services can be as discreet as you would need or like. For instance, you could save the crisis line’s number (1-855-325-4296) in your contacts under any name at all. Plus, you can text that same number instead! No matter which method you use—call, chat, or text—we just hope you reach out.

How long can we talk?

We don’t end a conversation until we feel confident that we’ve done everything we can to help. After about an hour or so, a volunteer might begin to see if you’re ready to end the conversation, but a call back to check in is still an option.

Can I call if I’m not local?

Absolutely! We operate as part of the National Suicide Prevention’s 24/7 Lifeline service and encourage calls and chats from anywhere and everywhere.

These services all exist to address a question we all ask sometimes, which is, am I alone? The answer is that no, none of us are alone. We’re all in this together, and that’s why we encourage anyone to call, text, or chat with us at 1-855-325-4296 and IowaCrisisChat.org. No matter what your reason for calling is, we’re here for you.

Call/Text: 1-855-325-4296
Chat: IowaCrisisChat.org
Mobile Crisis Dispatch: 1-855-800-1239
After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools

Coping with Suicide Loss Support Group
1st Thursday of each month at 7pm
1105 Project Building, 1105 S. Gilbert Ct. Iowa City, IA

Make a gift to CommUnity

Your gift supports people on their journey through crisis.

When you give to CommUnity, you’re joining a team of compassionate individuals, committed to supporting people who are struggling with difficult circumstances. Whether fighting food insecurity, supporting people through mental health crisis, or helping people meet their basic needs, your donation makes a real impact on the lives of people in Johnson County and beyond.

Your gift supports:

CommUnity’s Food Bank and Mobile Pantry, which serve over 1,000 local families every week
Our 24/7 crisis lines, which people can reach via phone, chat, or text to receive counseling to help them address thoughts of suicide and other mental health crises
CommUnity’s Mobile Crisis Outreach program, which dispatches mental health counselors to homes, schools, emergency rooms, and public places to stabilize crises occurring in the community
Our Basic Needs program, which assists clients with housing and utility expenses, birth certificates and identification, new employment work items, bus tickets, and more

Your gift is the foundation of all of these programs. We are grateful for your support and we couldn’t do it without you!

October 1, 2019

Providing Hope in Rural Communities

How Training Can Prevent Farmer Suicide

It’s no secret the agricultural industry is experiencing turmoil right now, but, according to one local farmer, we might be facing a farm crisis unlike any we’ve seen before.

Mike Deahr farms in Muscatine County and, though he boasts 32,000 head, he’s still considered in just the 20^th percentile of hog operations. He also grows corn and soybeans. Deahr didn’t start farming until he was 30-years-old, right in the middle of the Farm Crisis of the 1980’s.

“I saved my money and eventually had enough money to buy something that someone else lost,” he said.

Though Deahr has been successful, he knows the high cost of living this passion. More than 30 years ago, Deahr’s brother, George, died by suicide.

“It’s a high-risk business,” said Deahr. However, his brother’s death motivated him to ensure others have the support his brother lacked. Social isolation is a major determinant of suicide risk and farming can be a very lonely profession. “Many farmers stay involved in bigger picture things. Others go to the local diner to catch up on gossip. There’s quite a network in the business of acquaintances that we never had in the past. The social isolation is there if you allow it to be, but each individual handles it a different way.”

In addition to social isolation, financial stressors are just a fact of life in farming. Financial stressors are growing amongst farmers and, as Deahr stated, they are only going to get worse.

“Most days the financial stress is in the background,” he said. “But we are one newsbyte away from a heavy stressor at all times these days. The geopolitical environment affects our livelihood and we have no control over it. Ag is probably the first geopolitical football in trade disputes and will remain that way, hence the reason for farm programs. Most of us just want the government to stay out of our business, but it’s always inevitably in it. Trump taxes their goods, China responded with ag. It put my whole business in a tailspin. For us, swine started over a year ago with the tariffs. The markets collapsed in July of 2018. It was stressful. It hardened me to this run of tough times ahead.”

The geopolitical landscape isn’t the only external and uncontrollable threat in agriculture. Weather and climate change can turn a good year bad overnight. Last year’s polar vortex increased propane bills up to three times. Deahr said they had trouble getting manure on the fields. Then the rain started and planting happened much later than usual in the spring. Deahr said it was “history setting-type weather.”

Knowing the stress that he and his family have gone through in the past couple of years, Deahr understands that farmers need to support each other. However, most farmers don’t have all of the skills they need to ensure that someone’s mental health isn’t being pushed to its limit.

“I’ve tried counseling in periods of stress to better understand myself but counselors are ill-prepared to deal with ag subjects,” he explained. “We worry about so much: getting the next generation started, their work ethic, the transfer of responsibilities. The older generation has to figure all that out.”

Deahr said it is critical for people who work in the ag industry or with those who work in the ag industry to have the skills to be able to recognize when someone needs help and to provide the stress intervention necessary to help them through it.

“If someone had these tools, they could help farmers who are stressed digest everything happening and figure it out,” he said.

Unfortunately, there are barriers to getting this kind of help. Lots of them. Men in rural areas are significantly more likely to die by suicide than any other demographic. The lack of resources in rural areas and stigma are the most common reasons.

“It’s like talking about kissing your sister,” Deahr laughed. “You just don’t do it. You don’t talk about depression. Some of us sense it, though. I shut my planter off a few weeks ago and knew an individual who needed help. I went and worked some ground for him. A lot of us do things like that. I knew I’d be ok, but he needed the help.”

Deahr said that sometimes it’s easier to do something physical as an act of support than to ask someone how they’re feeling. However, having a direct conversation can be one of the most powerful tools in helping to prevent suicide.

“Sometimes I can tell something is going on, so I just keep talking to them and checking in to show them I care,” he said. “When you talk to people, you learn. I used to do sales and I learned early how to read people. But listening is one thing. Giving feedback is dangerous. You have to be good at asking questions.”

But how do you know what questions to ask?

The things Deahr seems to know inherently are the things CommUnity Crisis Intervention staff can teach. Beginning in fiscal year 2019, CommUnity staff began recognizing that there is a great need for mental health services that target farmers and rural communities. However, we can’t be everywhere at once. So we decided to find a way that we could reach as many people with our services as possible and began providing training in rural communities across the state. In FY19, nearly 800 individuals in rural communities across Eastern Iowa received either Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper training, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), or Trauma Informed Care training from CommUnity staff. Through these trainings, regular people gain the skills to be able to recognize when someone is having thoughts of suicide or another mental health crisis and have a conversation at varying levels to help them access resources. Whether it’s just asking the question, “Are you all right?” or actually de-escalating a suicidal crisis, QPR or ASIST can help anyone learn the skills they need to help save lives right in their community.

“This stuff is so personal,” Deahr reminds us.

Additionally, the Iowa Concern farmer helpline is available 24/7/365 through phone and text at 1-800-447-1985 or chat at extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern. The helpline, run by Iowa State University Extension, has trained mental health counselors during the day who also understand issues facing the ag industry. They are able to help answer financial questions, they understand the lingo, and they can communicate in a way that farmers are comfortable and feel they’re being heard. Overnights and weekends, CommUnity staff and volunteers respond to the helpline.

If you are interested in attending an ASIST, QPR, or Trauma Informed Care training, or if you would like to host a training in your area, visit www.builtbycommunity.org/training or contact Julia Erickson at Julia.erickson@builtbycommunity.org for more information.

Hearing Voices and Special Messages Support Group

1st Thursday at 5:30 p.m. / 3rd Thursday at 4:00 p.m. monthly
R Place Peer Center, 702 S Gilbert St Suite 111, Iowa City, IA
Call (319) 351-2726 ext. 132 or email rochelle.honey-arcement@builtbycommunity.org more information

Hearing Voices and Special Messages Support Group provides a safe space where individuals who hear voices or have other unusual experiences can find social support and a sense of belonging. These groups provide a format in which members can share about these experiences in a nonjudgmental setting within an ethos of empathy and a respect for a diversity of views. Consequently, there is no assumption of illness. All are welcome however one chooses to understand their experience. The group process also provides opportunities for individuals to learn strategies from each other for living an empowered life even with these experiences.

Hearing Voices groups first developed in Europe in the 1980’s by psychiatrist Marius Romme and voice hearer Sandra Escher. They identified the need for spaces where people could explore these experiences and seek support in an open and accepting environment. There are now hundreds of such of groups all over the world.

About the Facilitator

Rochelle is the full-time Mobile Crisis Outreach Coordinator and a counselor at CommUnity. She holds master’s degrees in Social Work and Health & Disability Rights. She wrote her thesis on access to and quality of youth disability services in Johnson County. She is passionate about advocating for the rights of persons experiencing mental illness. Rochelle has lived experience of psychosis and the mental health system.

Coping with Suicide Loss Support Group

A support group for those who have lost a loved one or friend to suicide meets the first Thursday of each month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the GuideLink Center. These meetings offer a safe place to talk about memories, ongoing grief, and the stigma surrounding death by suicide. Participation is free and new members are encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact Loni Parrott or Kitch Shatzer via email at llrp14@hotmail.com or revkitch@hotmail.com. If you cannot participate in the support group meeting but would like help or information about grief, please call or text our crisis line at 1-855-325-4296 or chat with us.

“A friend invited me to go to CommUnity’s monthly group for suicide survivors, but I was in such shock and denial, I could not imagine myself attending such a group. But as the reality sunk in, more and more, piercing through my denial, I did join the group. I met others who were experiencing exactly what I was going through. I felt less isolated and ashamed, from the deep kinship of our sorrow.” [Read the rest of Loni’s story]

—Loni Parrott, Suicide Loss Survivor

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many people attend the group?
Attendance varies from month to month, but there are usually between 4-10 people that attend the support group each month.

How can I join?
People are welcome to join at any time. Simply attend the next meeting on the first Thursday of the month, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the GuideLink Center.

What happens at a typical meeting?
Facilitators read an opening statement welcoming participants. Introductions are made and people are asked to share (if they are able) the details of their loss. Some meetings are focused on a specific topic or have a special speaker, but most provide open time for sharing and supporting one another. Everyone is given time to talk, but it is okay to pass if you do not feel up to sharing.

Is there a fee?
There is no cost to join the group or attend meetings. Freewill donations are accepted and used to support the group.

Who facilitates the support group?
The group is co-facilitated by two CommUnity volunteers under the supervision of a licensed master social worker. Both of the current facilitators have over five years of experience leading meetings and both have suffered personal loss due to suicide.

Can my spouse and/or my friend come with me to the group?
Yes, sometimes it can be comforting to bring a support person with you, especially to your first few meetings. You are more than welcome to bring a family member or a friend.

Click here for information about service changes due to COVID-19.