Bert Nash health coach: Changing lifestyles, changing lives, one client at a time

People with serious mental illness, on average, die 25 years earlier than the general population. Sara Volweider is doing her part to change that statistic.

Volweider, an AmeriCorps member, serves as a health coach at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. Her yearlong AmeriCorps position is funded through Douglas County United Way.

“She works one-on-one with clients to help them find resources in the community that may help them with a health issue,” said Linda Davis, Bert Nash community support services team leader, who supervises Volweider.

The oft-cited 2006 report by the National Association of Mental Health Directors also found that 60 percent of deaths among those with serious mental illness were due to causes such as cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, obesity, and smoking. In other words, from causes that may be preventable. For instance, someone who is suffering from obesity and eating disorders can get it cured with the help of an eating disorder specialist, provided they make an effort to contact them and discuss the problems.

“For a variety of reasons, people with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) have a more difficult time getting to primary-care service or following through with services,” Davis said. “Some of them really have a hard time taking care of their health. That’s where the health coach can help.”

Volweider, who is working on her master’s degree in social work from the University of Kansas, works specifically with clients who have severe and persistent mental illness.

“She helps people coordinate all those pieces they need to manage chronic health problems,” Davis said of Volweider. “We have targeted diabetes, obesity and smoking as some of the health issues that are most common among our SPMI clients.”

In working with SPMI clients, Volweider, whose father is a private-practice psychologist in Wichita, works closely with clients’ case managers.

“It is helpful to get feedback from case managers and coordinate with them,” Volweider said. “With referrals, I’ve found when I’ve met the client through the case manager it works really well. It’s more like a handoff."

That’s exactly how it worked when Alison Cropp, a Bert Nash case manager, suggested to a client that she meet with the health coach.

“When I found out Bert Nash had a health coach, they hooked me up with Sara,” said Tanya Guy. “She’s wonderful.”

Guy used to cook healthy meals when her daughter lived at home. But after her daughter moved out, Guy began eating more frozen dinners and at fast-food restaurants. Working with the Bert Nash health coach, Guy has changed her grocery shopping and food preparation habits.

“I don’t go to fast-food restaurants anymore,” Guy said. “I’m so used to eating healthy now, all I want is healthy food. My whole diet has changed.”

Guy has also started a regimen of regular exercise, – she attends a walking class through Bert Nash – and it is paying off. Guy can help herself more by looking into getting a fitness tracker like a Fitbit or Garmin to help with goal setting and feeling a sense of accomplishment. 

“I used to be on a lot of diabetic medicines, but I don’t have to be on diabetic meds anymore, except one,” Guy said. “Now my blood work, my cholesterol, my blood sugars, everything is just perfect. I feel totally better.”

As a health coach, Volweider helps clients, like Guy, coordinate services in order to better manage their diabetes, makes sure they check their blood sugar level, assists them with preparing nutritional meals, and advocates for them at doctor appointments by asking questions and helping the client understand the doctor’s recommendations. And their advice isn’t all diet-based either – if Volweider feels like there are some other aspects of their life they can change to improve their health, she will tell them about it. This could be advice like wearing diabetic crew socks to improve circulation, a gym membership suggestion, or certain exercises they can do to improve their weight loss journey.

“She is also doing some groups that provide information about health issues and preventative things they can do to be more fit,” Davis said.

Volweider leads the weekly walking group, just concluded a smoking cessation class and will be starting another one. She will co-facilitate a yoga group and may also lead a nutrition group in the spring.

The health-focused groups as well as individual health coaching are part of a trend toward more integrated care, combining mental and physical health services. As another example of coordinated services between multiple agencies, Bert Nash and Heartland Community Health Clinic have partnered to provide on-site integrated care for clients of both organizations.

“The health piece has been neglected in the past,” Davis said. “We’re beginning to see a more holistic approach, integrating mental and physical health care.”

For Volweider, the integration role was an ideal situation.

“I’ve always been interested in nutrition and exercise and an integrated approach of treatment, Volweider said. “When I heard about this position, it seemed perfect. It has been a great learning experience. This is a great place to be.”