NewPath Featured in Mental Health Town Hall
Hosted by WKRC Local 12
NewPath Child & Family Solutions was recently featured on a mental health panel with local experts to discuss growing mental health concerns in our community.
Kids & Mental Health: Stopping the Stigma
NewPath Child Family Solutions was recently featured on a mental health panel to discuss the growing mental health concerns local youth are facing every day. Liz Bonis from WKRC Local 12 hosted the town hall and interviewed local industry experts, including NewPath’s CEO, Eric Cummins, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joe Rieman.
Watch the full story
Key Points & Takeaways
According to the CDC, as many as 1 in 3 youth between the ages of 12-17 have a mental health issue. Nearly 1 in 10 will consider taking their own lives.
Memorable quotes
“We want to meet people where they’re at. If you’re in crisis, come on in; we’ll get you set up. It’s pretty amazing because we can get you in to see a psychiatrist or that clinician right away,” said Eric Cummins, CEO of NewPath. “It’s about prevention, it’s not about waiting until it gets too far along in the process. It’s ‘How can we help you now?‘”
“We do a full evaluation. Not just on the individual and not just based on a diagnosis, but looking at the entire family and the entire environment. That’s why we have people not only go into the home, but we have staff go into the school. Our children spend a lot of time in school, and it’s a big source of stress. We want to meet kids where they are and address concerns where they occur,” said Dr. Joe Rieman, Chief Medical Officer of NewPath.
“Its the whole family, and it’s the whole community. We try to partner with everyone that we can,” said Dr. Joe. “Having a couple of positive adults and role models, involving everyone in the treatment plan, can make a difference for our entire community.“
“It doesn’t just take the family. It takes the whole community,” said Eric. “Being willing to hear that, and to have a support structure around them. Since COVID, we have learned to be alone, and we, as people, are not built for that. We need to have that family, that community around us to support us, to ask the questions when we are having those rough times.“
“I very rarely, if at all, use ‘This is what I’m going to do’ or ‘This is what you’re going to do.’ It’s very inclusive language, ‘This is what we’re going to work on’ or ‘What are we struggling with?’ To make sure it is always clear that this is a team approach,” said Dr. Joe. “I’m in this with you, and we’re in this as a team.“
“Check on your people. Check in with your athletes, your students, your peers and make sure they’re ok,” said Dr. Joe. “Ask, ‘Is there anything you need?’ ‘What are you looking forward to?’ ‘What are you proud of?’ Just make sure you check in and make that connection with the people around you.“
[If you don’t have a support system] I think it’s important to create that. You need to find that support, and sometimes people don’t even know that they are out there, so how do we make sure that they know that? We have to let other people know that we are there,” said Eric.
There is Hope. There is Help.
At NewPath, we do more to make a difference—more for each child, each client, and our community. Backed by a full breadth of services, we get to the heart of every case and deliver the best opportunity for change. Every program improves lives, and every person ignites hope, one success story at a time.
Access Outpatient Services with Open Access Walk-In Hours
We offer convenient Open Access Walk-In Hours for outpatient mental health services—no appointment necessary. Visit during walk-in hours for an initial assessment with our compassionate team—no referral needed.
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