BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – As more kids are facing mental health struggles, a new program is working to meet them where they are when they need it.
The day tragedy struck St. Helena College and Career Academy in 2023 is when Director of Behavioral Health Banjamin Larisey learned his approach to crisis response needed to change.
“We were kind of thrown in with no plan, and we quickly learned overnight how to develop a plan and the importance of community partners,” explained Larisey.
That’s when he teamed up with Dr. Alecia Cyprian, CEO of Southeast Community Health Systems, to come up with a solution.
“There’s crisis in small rural communities and we want to be there to support them,” said Cyprian.
In order to do that, they’re launching a youth mobile crisis response program to help support kids across the region who are having mental health struggles.
“We’ll dispatch into communities where individuals who are up to age 21 are in crisis,” explained Cyprian.
Larisey said it doesn’t matter where they are, they will go to them.
“We are literally meeting them where they are emotionally and physically,” said Larisey.
He said a therapist and a peer support specialist will show up to any crisis, any time of day, free of charge in order to provide on-site care, regardless of any barriers.
“Lack of transportation, some may not have internet access to do telehealth, so if they’re able to call and we’re able to bring services to where they are, we think that’s going to make an impact and improve mental health outcomes,” explained Cyprian.
Improving outcomes for not only the child, but also their families by giving them the help they need to keep this from happening again.
“You have everything you need in your home as a unit to handle crisis,” said Larisey. “Let us teach you and let us help you there.”
The program officially launches on June 2. To get help, you can call 988 or one of the numbers below based on where you live.
Youth Crisis-Region 9: 985-247-0816
Parishes of Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington
Youth Crisis-Region 2: 225-713-3208
Parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana
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