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For mental health sufferers, help

Citrus County Chronicle - 7/28/2017

Healthy minds, healthy bodies, healthy babies, healthy families, healthy community.

That's the goal of the Pregnancy and Family Life Center in Inverness.

For decades, the center has been a resource for pregnant women and their families, providing everything from free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds to baby clothes and baby furniture, parenting classes and emotional support.

Beginning Aug. 1, add free mental health and substance abuse counseling to the list of services for the center's clients, thanks to a $45,000 grant from the Citrus County Community Charitable Foundation.

Why is this necessary?

"Because of the increase of substance-addicted newborns," Stephanie Bell, executive director of the Pregnancy and Family Life Center, said.

In 2016, mental health and substance abuse was named one of the five major areas of need relating to the health of Citrus County.

Also, Florida Department of Health information shows that between 2010 and 2015, the number of babies born drug addicted in the state of Florida increased 86 percent.

Drug addiction in pregnancy is a real problem, Bell said, as are mental health issues in some of the women who come to the center - issues such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

"Many are low-income and don't have the money to see a mental health counselor," Bell said. "So, now we have this grant money that will pay for all the counseling services."

The center has contracted with Affinity Counseling in Inverness.

"Our thought is, if we catch it early and get them the tools they need, then that gives them a head start on having a healthy baby," Bell said.

Clients will be screened for three things: anxiety, depression and substance abuse. Then based on their score, whether mild, moderate or severe, that will determine the level of treatment.

Those with mild scores will be offered peer counseling, moderate scores can do weekly group counseling on Thursday mornings at the center - with child care provided - and those with severe scores can receive one-on-one counseling.

Bell said most will probably be in the moderate range.

She added that this is not mandatory, but another one of their resources.

"When you come in, you'll have an introduction to the program, and you can either accept or decline the grant services, the free mental health counseling, and they also don't have to stop whatever counseling they're already going through," Bell said.

"I really want to let the women know that we're not investigators; we're just here to offer counseling. They're free to be open - there's no judgment here.

"I'm excited," she said. "Mental health services are much needed in Citrus County, so this is a huge deal."

Contact Chronicle reporter Nancy Kennedy at 352-564-2927 or nkennedy@chronicleonline.com.