Philanthropy to the Rescue (for a client)
Working with one of my clients recently has truly opened my eyes to an area of concern that fortunately, I’ve never dealt with much. And it was philanthropy that helped solve the issue and brought practical, applicable solutions to bear to help individuals in need.
If one is having a mental health challenge, it turns out there are very few appropriate places that can actually assist with this issue. My client, with a great deal of forethought and heartfelt care, decided to do something about individuals needing mental health intervention and having only a local emergency room to access for such care. It turns out, the local emergency room may be one of the worst places one can go for mental health services. Emergency rooms are built for triaging physical injuries and assessing physical needs. The environment, the care, the specialization, and the support for mental health challenges are normally incongruent with the modern-day ER.
My client, in partnership with county and local first responders, raised money to build a standalone mental health facility as a place for people to access, rather than going to the hospital emergency room, for mental health crises. Everything about it is different than what you think of if you’ve ever watched a show like ER, Chicago Hope, or The Good Doctor.
This state-of-the-art mental health facility is quieter, it’s softer, it’s more inviting, there’s less stress, there are big comfortable chairs/couches, it has individual rooms for quiet conversations, there’s soft music playing, and even the decor is different. It’s all the things someone who’s experiencing a mental health crisis needs. In some ways, it reminds me of how some places are building out standalone hospice houses to give patients and families a chance to be more comfortable in their last days on this earth. It’s a community asset that provides a direct and powerful assist to patients in need. And those communities with such an asset will be able to provide better mental health care for their citizens.
It was philanthropy, and a great hospital foundation (client), that raised the money for 100 percent of the costs of this facility. It’s brought the community together in a way many didn’t think was possible---to serve the needs of those who have mental health challenges. Philanthropy, as shown here, can address the community’s biggest needs in a way that almost no other option can offer.