In the United States, someone dies by their own hand every 12 minutes, according to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).
One staggering statistic is that Caucasian men average 22 suicides per 100,000 people, with those aged 45 to 64 representing the fastest-growing group, up from 20.8 per 100,000 in 1999 to 30.1 in 2017.
Sadly, seventy percent of all suicides take place with the victim having never seen a mental health professional, according to Inpatient Adult Psychiatric Unit Medical Director Bradford Bobrin, MD, FASAM. One of his goals is to send the message that people don’t have to hide their depression or mental illness.
“I’m hoping the help we can give patients in the Unit will lower the suicide rate in Salem County,” he said. “We want to break the stigma of mental illness.”
Bobrin said the Unit will use evidence-based care to maintain good results after the acute crisis is defused.
“Our goal is to get each patient to a safe state of mind,” said Bobrin. “Our goal is to save lives.”
Since the early 1980s, SMC has served as the county’s designated psychiatric screening center. The opening of the Unit builds upon SMC’s behavioral health continuum of care — inpatient and outpatient.
The Unit is a voluntary facility for those in distress from mental illness or addiction.
The Unit will be supported by a multidisciplinary team comprised of medical/psychiatric director, nurse director, social worker, case manager, mental health therapists and technicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and rehabilitation therapists.
In addition to suicide prevention, the staff specializes in care for individuals suffering from mental health disorders including acute mood and anxiety disorders, co-occurring psychiatric/substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).