Local Hospital Focuses on Mental Health

Front row (L to R): Nichole App, Maggie (unit cat) and Sandy Pierce. Back row (L to R): Tina Aown, Debbie McCann, Kirk Swabash, Mike Morey, Kelly Juntunen, Dennis Nessel, Lisa Sewejkis, Environmental Services, and Cathy Queen.

Northern Michigan Hospital, one of three major hospitals covering the Boyne City area, has received an award for their commitment to mental heath in the area.  Focusing on recovery, the staff recognize that mental health problems are, as they put it, “Painful emotionally, spiritually, and socially.”  “There is still such a stigma about mental illness that people are often hesitant to seek treatment,” said Tina Aown, Nurse Manager of the Northern Michigan Regional Hospital Mental Health Unit. “If you are struggling with your feelings, mood, emotions, or thoughts, don’t hesitate – seek help.”

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that one in four adults – approximately 57.7 million Americans – experience a mental health disorder in a given year. Mental illnesses, which can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income, are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder.

While the diagnosis of mental illness can seem overwhelming, it is treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan. “Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. It’s important to recognize that metal illnesses are biological just like diabetes or heart disease,” Aown said. “Recognizing May as Mental Health Month is a great way to educate the public that having good mental health is a big part of a person’s overall health.”

Serving the needs of patients and their families across northern Michigan is the top priority for the Northern Michigan Regional Hospital Mental Health Unit – something that has not gone unnoticed. The Inpatient Mental Health Program recently received the PRC 2010 Excellence in Healthcare Award for scoring at or above the 100th percentile for excellent responses in a national database for Overall Quality of Care by Professional Research Consultants, Inc. (PRC), a nationally-known healthcare marketing research company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
“The Mental Health Unit staff is honored and very proud to be recognized in this way,” Aown said. “We work tirelessly to serve the needs of our patients and their families and it means so much that they appreciate and see value in the services we provide.”
About Northern Michigan Regional Hospital

Northern Michigan Regional Hospital is a 214-bed regional referral center located in Petoskey, serving residents in 22 counties across northern Lower Michigan and the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula. A medical staff of nearly 200 physicians represents nearly all medical and surgical specialties, enabling full-service care with an emphasis on heart, cancer, orthopaedics, and neuroscience services. Additional information can be found at northernhealth.org.