Crossroads Health is breaking the cycle of substance abuse, mental health issues and trauma for people with a family history

By Patricia Nugent

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month.

In light of the increased anxiety that social isolating during the Covid-19 pandemic is causing, awareness of how those with mental health issues and substance use disorders are handling the situation is all the more needed.

Here in Lake County, programs geared toward helping people from adolescents to adults are being addressed by the mental health professionals at Crossroads Health.

“We do whatever it takes to stay in contact with our clients,” says Dave Zavasky, program manager of Dual Diagnosis, Transitional Youth Services and the Jail Treatment Program. His programs provide assessment, individual and group counseling, case management and continuing care.

“Our connection is mostly via telephone conferencing, as many in our groups do not have access to the technology or are not tech-savvy enough to navigate a virtual connection,” he says. “When possible, our therapists have been video conferencing to provide individual therapy. We’ve also made ‘porch visits’ to drop off food and needed medications to our clients.”

Safety plans are also an integral part of overcoming feelings of isolation and despair. Dave reports they have been reinforcing these plans to people via encrypted emails. Customized to the individual, the plans include revisiting natural and beneficial supports to help people cope, including listening to certain songs or podcasts, reading books, taking their dog for a walk, etc.

Crossroads Health is one of the few agencies in the state to address the adolescent and young adult population, ages 15-26. There are currently more than 200 in the Transitional Youth Services program.

“We seek to break the cycle of substance use, mental health issues or trauma for at-risk people who have a family history of troubles,” he explains. “The earlier we can engage them, the better chance we have of putting them on a new trajectory of mental health and wellness.”

Crossroads Health is a community-based 501(C)(3) nonprofit with five main locations in Lake County: 8445 Munson Road in Mentor, 9220 Mentor Avenue in Mentor, 1083 Mentor Avenue in Painesville, 35104 Euclid Avenue, Suite 300 in Willoughby and 2 Success Boulevard at Perry High School in Perry. Call 440-255-1700 or visit CrossroadsHealth.org for more information. The main crisis hotline is 440-953-8255.