NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There are lots of challenges for Horizons Mental Health Center as it continues growth into a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, but two are at the top of new CEO Vicki Mader's mind.
"There is still a stigma out there," Mader said. "People are scared to get help. We still need to work on that. I also would say that, logistically, staffing is a huge issue for us right now."
That's across the spectrum of training levels, it's a shortage of both providers and those that care for patients who may not have that training.
"Finding a staff that want to work in this field has been hard since COVID," Mader said. "It really has. We've lost a lot of therapists and we are continuing to look for more staffing, trying to come up with ideas and programs to grow students. We were looking at paid internships and things like that and then trying to support our staff the best that we can."
It is a mentally taxing thing to work with other's mental health problems, as well, so self-care for those who are in the profession is also key.
"The people that get into this profession are very caring people and they want to take care of others," Mader said. "It's really hard for them to separate that. We have to be able to support them to take a break, but be able to provide the best care that they can."
To find openings at Horizons Mental Health Center, go to the Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System Careers site.