The=20 Bridges progarm at Grafton City Hospital is now accepting referrals for = our=20 Intensive Outpatient Service for adult mental health consumers in the = Taylor,=20 Barbour, Preston, Monongalia, Marion and Harrison County areas. = Please see=20 the enclosed information, share with colleagues and contact us with any=20 questions! Thank you!

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What: Bridges Behavioral = Medicine,=20 Intensive Outpatient Program

When: Monday-Friday 10:00am - = 12:00pm=20 (excluding some holidays)

Where: Grafton City Hospital- = Grafton,=20 WV

For questions or to make a = referral=20 for screening please contact:

= Faye=20 Swiger, M.S.W., LICSW

= Intake and=20 Assessment Coordinator/Therapist

304.265.6444<= /B>

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Who: Mental health = consumers with=20 Axis I diagnoses, including those with co-morbid diagnoses in the = Taylor,=20 Marion, Preston, Barbour, Randolph and Harrison County areas. =20

Why: Bridges seeks to = improve the=20 functioning of individuals in their community by addressing their mental = health=20 needs. Transition to and participation in the Bridges Intensive = Outpatient=20 Program following inpatient treatment has resulted in significant = reduction of=20 inpatient recidivism. = Bridges=20 interventions utilize primarily a didactic approach in order to provide=20 education to clients regarding effective management of mental = health. Our=20 clients are empowered to take an active role in planning his or her = treatment,=20 and are encouraged to act as an advocate for themselves and others. = Individuals=20 with chronic mental illness are often isolated and stigmatized, which = results in=20 lack of access to a community of individuals with shared issues and = concerns;=20 Bridges SOP brings these individuals together both for support as well = as=20 education.

How: The Bridges program = addresses=20 chronic mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and thought = disorders=20 in order to provide follow up care for and to reduce the need for = psychiatric=20 hospitalizations and crisis residential services. This intensive = program=20 consists of two hours of therapy Monday through Friday, and length of = treatment=20 reflects each client=92s needs. = The=20 program includes comprehensive assessments, medication evaluation, = treatment=20 planning, group didactic and psychotherapeutic interventions, as well as = referral and transportation coordination. Bridges = staff coordinates=20 with local community mental health centers to ensure continuity of = care and=20 to facilitate a seamless transition back into the community. The = didactic=20 approach to treatment in the Bridges program goes beyond the typical = therapeutic=20 approach by educating individuals about his or her mental illness, = as well=20 as developing understanding about the effects of medication on symptoms = and=20 functioning, and informing clients of methods of accessing available = community=20 resources. The Bridges group members function in a safe, confidential = manner in=20 order to: identify and utilize healthy coping skills, develop healthy = and=20 supportive relationships, develop social skills, gather = encouragement and=20 offer support to one another. The Bridges program also addresses = issues=20 such as; impact of mental illness on daily functioning, anger = management,=20 divorce, grief/loss, relational issues, abuse, unemployment, and=20 trauma. Following an initial psychiatric evaluation, clients are = monitored=20 by a physician bi-weekly to ensure medication=20 efficacy.