News & Notes

Growing up as a young girl in the ’70s, I had friends who were experiencing trauma at home. I didn’t know how to help them then, except to listen and offer hugs. Some of my friends in high school were suicidal. I came out as gay in 1986 at 16 years old, to my high school, in a letter to the school paper. I experienced bullying and suicidal ideation myself. I took a psychology class in high school, and from that point onward I knew I wanted to help people who were struggling w

As you know, things continue to change day by day and even hour by hour. We have modified our services to adapt to this challenge, but remain committed to meet the mental health needs of our community during this crisis. I want to thank the entire Bert Nash Center team for the tremendous work that they are doing in helping us with our initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am so impressed and grateful for the tremendous work they are doing whether in the office or remot

In some instances, drama can have a negative connotation. That certainly isn’t the case with what Barrett Scroggs does. He uses drama to encourage creative growth and mental health. Scroggs, a graduate student at Kansas State University, uses drama therapy every week when working with high school and middle school students in the secondary therapeutic classroom at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center in Lawrence. The classroom, a partnership between Bert Nash and USD 497

Schools are in the business of educating students. But a student’s mental well-being can interfere with that learning process. A lot of things in their personal lives can spill into their educational life -- for instance, if they are finding it hard to keep up with the curriculum, no matter the age, and they don’t have access to the books they need, as well as tap into free educational assistance online. Again, this doesn’t cover the root of the problem and kids need to know

In July, the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center will celebrate its 70th birthday. The Bert Nash Center opened on July 5, 1950. University of Kansas psychiatrist Sigmund Gundle was the first director. The Center is named for Dr. Bert Nash, a renowned children’s psychologist. As a student at Washburn University, one of his professors was Dr. Karl Menniger, one of the most influential psychiatrists of his time. When Bert Nash died unexpectedly from a brain hemorrhage in 19

Our community partner, Heartland Community Health Center, has set up a screening tent at the south entrance in front of the Community Health Facility, 200 Maine St. This was done primarily to screen individuals coming to appointments for services at Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health on the first floor. Heartland also offered to screen all individuals coming into the building. This is voluntary and Bert Nash clients can decline to participate. Should they agree, they will

Together we can help the most vulnerable in our community. Our Homeless Outreach Team needs nonperishable food items, such as canned goods, peanut butter, protein bars, as well as camping gear, including sleeping bags, tents, and tarps to distribute to the homeless in our community. Drop-offs can be delivered to the bins outside the South Entrance of the Community Health Facility, 200 Maine St. Monetary donations can also be made at https://bertnash.org/donate//. Thank you fo

During these challenging times, Bert Nash Center is here for you, including by televideo and telephone. If you or someone you know needs support, call our trained staff at 785-843-9192. We will get through this together.

With each new coronavirus update comes more information about what people should do to protect their physical health. But what about people’s mental health? “There’s a lot of information out there; most of it is from a physical health standpoint,” said Emily Rhamy, team leader for the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy team. “Wash your hands, social distancing, all that is important. But people need to take care of their mental health as w

What led you to the mental health field? I decided to be a person that helped others while traveling in Europe after I graduated from the KU School of Business focusing on Marketing and Personnel Management. I decided not to go into business after landing a job for a bank manager position in Washington, DC. I didn’t think it focused enough on helping others. When I returned to Lawrence to visit with my friends, I responded to an ad on the wall of the post office in Lawrence.

Bert Nash CEO Patrick Schmitz, speaking at the 2019 Celebrate Bert Nash breakfast: When I came here over two years ago, I expected there would be changes and that I would be part of creating some of them. I would have never foreseen the significant number of professional and personal ones I would go through. At the Bert Nash Center, we’ve been involved in creating change in how we deliver services. I am happy to report we’ve made significant progress. This past year we Respon

When asked what he thought about the idea of talking about the subject of mental health and the agricultural community, Lowell Neitzel didn’t hesitate to respond. “I’ve been hoping for someone to help out us farmers,” he said. That’s exactly what Douglas County Commissioner Nancy Thellman has been hoping for as well. “As a county, we have been working really hard on mental health crisis work and trying to help people get through their rough times, but the farming community is

Describe your role at Bert Nash. My role at Bert Nash has evolved over the time that I have been here. Primarily, I am a waiver facilitator and in a nut-shell I help develop and maintain plans of care for clients on the SED (Serious Emotional Disturbance) waiver. That includes collaborating with families, treatment teams, MCOs (Managed Care Organizations), and community partners to identify goals and needed supports. However, my first position with Bert Nash was providing att

Mindy Downs has been doing social work for 25 years. She can’t imagine doing anything else. For those who do what Downs does, being a case manager is more than a job; it’s a calling. “This is what I feel like I’m supposed to be doing,” said Downs, who has been a case manager at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center for 13 years. “It’s a meant-to-be thing.” According to the Case Management Society of America, “Case management is a collaborative process of assessment, pl

“We will be forever grateful for the community’s support, which paved the way for the construction of the Community Health Facility. I know I speak for all three agencies when I say what an honor it is to serve the residents of Douglas County. We all have our unique missions yet we all share the common goal of bettering the lives of our fellow citizens. Because of the community’s support, and because of the support of our local government, thousands upon thousands of lives ha

After Patrick Schmitz became CEO of the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center in the summer of 2017, he spent a lot of time out in the community, listening. Most of what he heard about the Center was positive. But if there was a common concern it had to do with the limited hours for intake assessments and access to services. Those two areas became a primary focus for the Bert Nash team. And they rose to the challenge. “As a Center, we’ve been working to remove the barriers

In planning and conversations leading up to building the Community Health Facility in 1999, leaders in Lawrence and Douglas County focused on a central location for three community health agencies to better coordinate care and public service. On the 20th anniversary of the building’s opening, members of the public are invited to see how that initial investment still serves the community’s health needs in various ways. The original occupants – Bert Nash Community Mental Health

Brad Cook, Bert Nash Community Support Services program manager, is the 2019 recipient of the Sandra Shaw Spirit Award. The award, named for the late Bert Nash CEO, is the highest honor a Bert Nash staff member can receive. Julie Berndsen, last year’s recipient, when making this year’s award presentation, said, “This person strives to bring everyone together to accomplish the Bert Nash mission.” Congratulations, Brad! You inspire all of us at Bert Nash!

When Jennifer Sherman was at her wit’s end, she received the help she desperately needed. Now, in her role as a parent support specialist at the Bert Nash Center, she helps other parents who are in similar situations. It wasn’t that long ago, Sherman was one of those parents who was struggling. Her daughter, who was 13 at the time, was having some major issues. The Shermans – Jennifer and her husband, Andy – knew their daughter needed help. That’s when they came to Bert Nash.

Congratulations, Erin Walker, for winning the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare’s 2018-19 Margo Award for Exceptional Performance in MSW Clinical Practicum! Erin has been a WRAP (Working to Recognize Alternative Possibilities) intern at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School. WRAP is a Bert Nash school-based mental health program, which is a partnership with Lawrence Public Schools and Eudora Schools. Way to go, Erin! We’re proud of you!