The most recent report by the state on substance use shows in Michigan 20% of people reported using illicit drugs in the last month. In 2022, there were more than 3000 deaths by overdose -- 312 in West Michigan alone.
Numbers like these and calls from the community are prompting hospital groups to look at their roles in a new way, post-pandemic as mental health needs continue to rise.
“You’ve all only known us as the organization that takes care of you when your body is sick. Now we’re trying to figure out how to take care of your mental well-being as well.”
Shelly Yaklin is the president of Trinity Health Grand Haven. She says hospitals are integrating behavioral health treatment with traditional hospital services. For instance, Yaklin says in Grand Haven the emergency room is designed with behavioral health in mind, to offer help beyond what is typically offered at a community hospital.
“We didn’t want to just hand people a pamphlet, right? We wanted them to be able to meet with a counselor if that was for addictions or for some behavioral health challenge in their life.”
The supervised detox program is just one example. Yaklin highlights Trinity’s inpatient behavioral health centers in Muskegon and Byron Center as well as a crisis center and suicide collaborative in Grand Rapids as part of the evolving focus on mental health partnerships.
“This is just taking the next step for us.”
