On September 10th, Taylor D’Amico made a post on social media for Suicide Awareness Day. D’Amico was tired of posing as a happy outgoing person on social media, and says it was time for her to let people know what was really going on. I have know Taylor for years, and I was absolutely heartbroken to see my friend was struggling. I visited with Briana Bogue who is a therapist for Council for Relationships in Center City Philadelphia. She says people dealing with depression and thoughts of suicide are not alone. There are resources including therapists, hotlines, and crisis response centers that can help you.

 

 

Einstein Crisis Response Center’s Medical Director of Crisis Response Center Valorie Haves, MD, responded to a few questions about their Crisis Response Center and how they can help.

What is a CRC?

A CRC stands for Crisis Response Center. Previously in the City of Philadelphia. There are 5 adult CRC’s in Philadelphia and they were put in place so that they were geographically distributed throughout the City. Hall Mercer serves Center City, Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia serves the Southwest, Einstein serves the Northwest, Episcopal serves the North and Friends Hospital covers the Northeast.
All CRC’s are open 24/7, 365 days a year regardless of holidays. There is also one designated Child CRC for under 18.

What kind of help is offered?

CRC staff from various disciplines are available to help guide patients and families through the process. Possible referrals might be to an
acute inpatient psychiatric facility, a sub-acute psychiatric facility, inpatient detoxification or rehabilitation services, as well as to outpatient treatment whether it be a partial program, an outpatient psychiatric facility, or an Intensive Outpatient Program for addiction issues. CRC’ss also have the ability to hold patients for observation so that we are able to get a better understanding as to their specific needs. CRCs are available to help and assist in navigating through the behavioral health system, and therefore ultimately providing optimal recovery.

What resources are available?
There are online tools in place to support and improve the wellbeing of individuals in the City of Philadelphia. These can be accessed via
www.HealthyMindsPhilly.org. The Philadelphia police have received specialized training in violence prevention, safe transport and de-escalation. This training was a collaborative effort between the Philadelphia Police Department and the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health. Police Districts throughout the city all have designated CRC’s in which to bring patients to based on their proximity.
Anyone can access a CRC at any time. Some individuals that might choose to access a Crisis Response Center may be depressed, anxious, suicidal, or have addiction issues or social issues. Others might be aggressive or psychotic. Some individuals might just need someone to talk to! Every effort is made to promote the upmost comfort and ease.

What can we expect from the Einstein CRC?
Within the past month, Einstein recently changed locations of its Crisis Response Center, so everything is state-of-the-art. The design was made with the intention of providing a welcoming environment, patient comfort, as well as a diverse and caring staff. Anyone is welcome to come to the Einstein Crisis Response Center, or call (215-951-8300). We are available 24/7, 365 days a year to provide help and assistance.