Social Worker

Hello, I would like to introduce myself as a new member of the Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic team! My name is Lonneisha Rutherford, and I am Taylor Street Clinic’s new full-time, clinical social worker.

A little about myself… I earned my bachelor’s in social work from Saginaw Valley State University (Go Cards) and graduated with my master’s in social work from Wayne State University (Go Warriors). I began my career working with youth diagnosed with Autism, and adults living with cognitive, developmental, and emotional disabilities. Previously I worked as residential therapist in the foster care system, which ultimately led me to my current role of clinical therapist at Taylor Street Clinic.

On a personal level, I am a Detroit Native and I’ve had the opportunity to spend more of my adult life enjoying all that the city has to offer. I enjoy my weekends, where I am free to spend time with family, explore local restaurants, and binge my favorite Netflix shows with fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.

I am very excited to get to know the Central Detroit Christian (CDC) families, the residents of the Virginia Park neighborhood, and the members of the surrounding communities. My hope is that I can provide you with tools, resources, and support to improve your overall emotional and mental wellness. I treat clients of all ages but I especially love working with young people.

If you have questions about the services I provide, do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached by calling 313-486-5501. You can also schedule an appointment by calling or visiting our website at taylorstreetclinic.com.

Before I end, here is a quick exercise that may assist staff, parents, and your kiddos who may feel overwhelmed or overstimulated.

Tip: Five Senses (Ground Technique)

• What five things do you see?
• What four things do you hear?
• What three things do you feel?
• What two things do you smell?
• What is one thing you can taste?

This exercise can help you relax and reconnect to the world around you. Practice while taking a walk, driving home, or throughout the day.

Indya Mitchell, MSN, RN, FNP-BC

Family Nurse Practitioner

Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic is thrilled to welcome Indya Mitchell to our team. Indya joined the Nursing Practice Corporation in March 2023 as Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic’s full-time family nurse practitioner.

Indya Michell holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Eastern Michigan University, and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM). She has been working as a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) since 2012. Indya’s previous experience includes work as an emergency room and trauma-certified Registered Nurse at Detroit Receiving Hospital, and as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) at several Detroit area Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).

As a primary care provider, Indya strongly believes that establishing a trusting patient-provider relationship is essential to providing quality care and improving patient outcomes. Indya has a special interest in prevention and management of diabetes, and more recently, obesity medicine.

Indya is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners.

Dear Reader:

This is one of the most vulnerable, yet important pieces I have ever written – and may ever write.

Here goes nothing…

Throughout my life, the number seven has always seemed to follow me. For example, I am writing this exactly seven days after World Suicide Prevention Day 2022 and exactly seven years after I attempted suicide for the last, and hopefully final, time. In numerology, or the study of numbers, those drawn to ‘seven’ are introspective, or are set apart by their examination of their own thoughts and feelings. And as I sit and I think about World Suicide Prevention Day 2022 (September 10^th of each year) whose theme is, “Creating hope through action,” it is my hope that by facilitating an open dialogue about suicide as well as sharing information and resources, it will help someone that may be struggling with suicidal thoughts. Though I cannot say I completely understand what you might be experiencing or how you might be feeling, I can imagine that whatever it is, it is extremely painful. Perhaps it is sorrow, or grief, or loneliness. Maybe you are indirectly impacted by suicidal behaviors. For me, it was helplessness – at 13 and again at 22, my problems felt just too big to be solved alone. And they were. However, you are NOT alone, I wasn’t alone. There is support and resources (including me!) out there that I will share with you that I wish I had known about then. Suicidal thoughts are common and can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. Just as when a ‘semicolon’ (;) is used in a sentence, you could have ended but did not; I am here to remind you of the things you have already and will continue to overcome, including suicidal thoughts.

In 2020, 45,979 Americans died by suicide. However, the number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher with approximately 12.2 million adults seriously having thought about suicide, 3.2 million having planned a suicide attempt, and 1.2 million having attempted suicide in 2020. Many factors, such as having experienced violence including child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence, can increase the risk for suicide (CDC, 2022). Other risk factors include a family history of suicide, substance use, access to firearms, and prolonged stress. Researchers have also found that 46% of people who die by suicide had a known mental health condition (NAMI, 2022). On the other hand, many factors can protect against suicide or decrease suicidal thoughts and behaviors such as being connected to family and community support and having access to health care (CDC, 2022).

Yet, some groups have higher suicide rates than others:

Gender/sex: There are 3.9 male deaths by suicide for each female death by suicide. In other words, one male dies by suicide every 14.4 minutes while one female dies by suicide every 55.9 minutes (SAVE, 2022).

Sexual orientation and gender identity: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual children are three times more likely than straight children to attempt suicide at some point in their lives. This figure is estimated to be higher for young people who come from families that reject or do not accept them. Additionally, 41% of transgender adults report that they have attempted suicide (SAVE, 2022).

Race/ethnicity: In 2020, the highest rates of suicide were among American Indians and Alaska Natives, with deaths increasing fastest among people of color and people who live in rural areas. Some studies show a particularly significant increase in deaths by suicide among Black youth and adolescences (KFF, 2022).

We can all play a role in supporting those experiencing a suicidal crisis or those bereaved by suicide. We can all encourage understanding about suicide, reach into people who are struggling, and share our experiences – our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to those struggling (WHO, 2022). Also, help is available! If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or some other mental health crisis or emergency, please call or text 988, to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Brittany Banks, LMSW, Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic, providing behavioral health services and resources to will improve your wellness. Brittany is currently accepting new patients.

Works Cited:

Facts About Suicide | Suicide | CDC

Suicide Statistics and Facts – SAVE

Risk of Suicide | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

A Look at Suicide Rates Ahead of 988 Launch—A National Three-Digit Suicide Prevention Hotline | KFF

World Suicide Prevention Day 2022 (who.int)

The celebrations of love and acceptance that happened during PRIDE are over, and for many in the LGBTQIA+ community life is once again, extremely complicated. Members of the LCBTQIA+ community often experience shame, fear, discrimination, and trauma. They may be rejected by their family and friends; face verbal and or physical abuse; and live with unaddressed substance abuse disorders and mental health conditions. Many in the LGBTQIA+ community struggle in silence. Mental Health America recently published some eye-opening stats about mental health issues within the LGBTQIA+ community.

• LGB adults are two times more likely to have a mental health condition.
• LGBTQ+ teens are six times more likely to deal with symptoms of depression. ²
• LGBTQ+ youth are two times more likely to feel suicidal.²
• LGBTQ+ youth are over four times more likely to attempt suicide. ²
• 8% of LGBTQ+ individuals and about 27% of transgender individuals report being denied needed health care. ²

How to support LGBTQI+ individuals

No matter how we identify, we can all support this community! Here are some steps we can ALL take:

Stay informed: Our identities are complicated. So, let us stay informed! Ask questions, and do not be afraid to be honest about what you do not know. See below for  “The Gender Unicorn” graphic and terminology.

Speak up: There are many reasons why people do not speak up when they hear something offensive. But words can hurt. When someone speaks up, it lets others know that their words are not acceptable. It may even encourage others to speak up!

Act: Support policies that help protect LGBTQI+ individuals from discrimination and hate. Even if the issue seems small, they can have a significant impact on people’s lives!

Encourage:  If you know someone who is struggling, encourage them to talk to a health care professional. Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic has health care providers that can address physical and behavioral health needs and can connect you to additional resources if needed. Click here to schedule an appointment.

Breaking down the concepts

The Gender Unicorn is a way to break down four concepts: gender identity, gender expression, sex assigned at birth, and sexual orientation.

Understanding the terminology

Gender identity: all about how you think about yourself.

Gender expression: how you present your gender identity through the way you act, dress, behave, etc.

Sex assigned at birth: the organs (e.g., penis), hormones, and chromosomes you possess. For example, being male means having testes, a penis, XY chromosome pairing, testosterone, and you can put a baby in a female’s stomach area.

Sexual orientation: all about who you are physically and emotionally attracted to. For example, if you are a male who is attracted to males and females, you are bisexual.

Lesbian: a woman who is attracted to other women

Gay: a man who is attracted to other men or can also be used to describe a person who is attracted to the same sex as themselves.

Bisexual: a person who is attracted to both men and women.

Transgender: people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.

Queer: Sexual and gender identities other than straight and cisgender (people whose gender identity and expression matches their sex assigned at birth) ³

Intersex: when a person is born with sexual anatomy that does not fit the boxes of “female” or “male.” ⁴

Heterosexual or straight: a person who is attracted to the other sex.

Brittany Banks, LMSW, Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic, connecting you to behavioral health services and resources that will improve your overall wellness.

Sources:

⁽¹⁾ LGBTQI | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

⁽²⁾ LGBTQ+ Communities and Mental Health | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)

⁽³⁾ (Genderbread Person — PFLAG Temecula).

⁽⁴⁾ What is Intersex? | Definition of Intersexual (plannedparenthood.org)

“We have a special interest in organizations that are working to improve access to high quality health care in Detroit neighborhoods,” said Dr. Nancy Hauff, co-founder of 100 Women Who Care Troy, and Wayne State College of Nursing faculty.

Taylor Street Primary Care clinic is a full-service, nurse-manage, primary care clinic that serves patients of all ages. Taylor Street clinic offers preventative, routine, and illness health care, and behavioral health care services.

“The funds from this grant will allow us to provide members of the Virginia Park community the tools and educational resources to make meaningful improvements in their health and wellbeing,” said Dr. Toni Grant, Chief Nursing Officer, Nursing Practice Corporation (NPC).

Located in the Central Detroit Christian Community Development building, at the corner of Taylor St. and Woodrow Wilson St., the Taylor Street Clinic is working to become a valuable resource for residents of Virginia Park and the surrounding neighborhoods.

About: Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic’s, mission is to help the Virginia Park and surrounding communities achieve health and wellness. Services include Acute and chronic care, preventative care, and routine care, of physical and mental health conditions. Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic is owned and operated by Nursing Practice Corporation (NPC) and is the faculty practice plan for Wayne State University’s College of Nursing.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a good time to take stock of your own mental health. I am going to take this opportunity to share some information about mental health, mental illness, and steps you should take to you have concerns about your mental health.

What is mental health?
Mental illness and mental health are not the same! When we say mental health, we are talking about our mental and social well-being.  Mental illness is a diagnosed condition that affects thoughts and behaviors.

What things can affect our mental health?
Diet, exercise, sleep, stress, and loneliness can all affect our mental health. That is why we should eat a healthy diet, exercise, sleep between 6 and 8 hours each night, keep our stress low, have good relationships, and do fun things like play a sport, cook, or garden. Health problems can affect mental health so make sure you see a primary health care provider on a regular basis to maintain your physical health.

What is mental illness?
Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. A mental illness is a diagnosable medical problem like asthma or diabetes. When we have a mental illness, our feelings, thoughts, or behaviors change. They can also cause social problems. Some of the most common mental illnesses are depression and anxiety. Mental illness can affect all of us! It can affect all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds. (APA, 2021) The good news is that mental illnesses can be treated.

Are there warning signs I should pay attention to?
Yes, while each mental illness has its own symptoms, there are some common signs to watch for:

• Excessive worrying or fear
• Feeling excessively sad or low
• Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning
• Extreme mood changes
• Avoiding friends and social activities
• Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
• Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
• Changes in sex drive
• Overuse of substances like alcohol or drugs
• Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes
• Thinking about suicide
• Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress

How do I know if I need help?
Remember, conditions like depression and anxiety are real! People with a mental illness can also get better! Screening tools can tell us if we are having signs of mental illness. Here is a link to some mental health screening tools for (Self-Help Tools | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)). Once you complete the screening, you will get resources and other tools to help you understand your mental health. You should also share your screening results with your doctor or a mental health specialist who can talk to you about ways to feel better (MHA, 2020).

What to do when you need help?
Talk to your primary care provider about your concerns. Recovery from mental illness is possible. There are trained specialists, like me, who can help. Allow myself and the team here at Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic to support you. To make an appointment, call us at 313-486-5501.

Brittany Banks, LMSW, Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic, connecting you to behavioral health services and resources that will improve your overall wellness.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. I would like to address the stigma that still surrounds alcohol use, which can prevent us from getting the help we need. Stigma can cause us to downplay how often we drink, how much we drink, and the impact drinking has on our life. It may also cause us to play up our ability to stop drinking. To overcome stigma, we should be honest about our drinking habits, educate ourselves about the dangers of alcohol, and seek support from our health care provider and/or a social worker.

Identify your drinking habits

• Excessive alcohol use includes binge drinking and heavy drinking.
  • Binge drinking = 5+ drinks for men and 4+ drinks for women within a 2-hour period.
  • Heavy drinking = 14+ drinks for men and 7+ drinks for women within a week.
• Online screening tools are available to help you understand if you are at risk – visit https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/

Understand the dangers of alcohol

• Social: Excessive alcohol use leads to a wide range of negative social problems such as car accidents, employment issues, and relationship troubles.
• Physical: Over time alcohol use can lead to serious medical conditions like high blood pressure, digestive problems, liver disease, and cancer.
• Mental: Alcohol can also affect our mental health including contributing to depression, anxiety, and suicide.

Seek help and share your concerns

Our staff at Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic will talk with you about your alcohol use at every visit. By doing so, we can identify and assist those negatively affected by alcohol to make healthy changes and/or get connected to treatment.

Do not let stigma get in the way of your health and wellness. Call 313-486-5501 to schedule an appointment at Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic.

For more information about alcohol use and addiction visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) at https://www.samhsa.gov/

Photo by cottonbro: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-clear-wine-glass-4982179/

Every March, “National Social Work Month,” recognizes and celebrates social workers, who account for the largest group of mental health providers in the nation. With dedication and empathy, social workers help individuals overcome stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions and issues, deal with crises, and improve relationships. Social workers provide support to people of all backgrounds, guide us through obstacles, advocate on our behalf, and connect us to resources when we are in need.

In honor of National Social Work Month, we thought it would be the perfect time for you to get to know Taylor Street Clinic’s full-time social worker, Brittany Banks.

TSC – Can you share a little about your social work background?

BB – My mom is a social worker and like most children, I frequently said things like, “I’ll never do that because my mom does it,” but here we are – and I cannot imagine myself doing anything else! I obtained my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Michigan State University and Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. While completing my master’s, I received specialized training in providing mental health treatment to individuals, families, and small groups in health care settings such a clinics and hospitals.

I started my career at a primary care clinic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I provided counseling to individuals with mental health conditions. I transitioned into hospice social work where I helped individuals and their families navigate end-of-life care and manage the stress of terminal illnesses. In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began – it felt like the right time to be closer to family. Shortly after returning to Michigan, I joined the team at Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic.

TSC – When should a person see a social worker?

BB – You should see a social worker if you need support navigating life’s challenges; identifying the source of stress or problems; developing or strengthening coping skills; and finding resources and supports that will lead to solutions.

If it were up to me, everyone would see a social worker.

TSC – Can a social worker help with a short-term crisis?

BB – Social workers have the skills to help address both short-term and long-term situations. Let me explain.

In a short-term situation, or crisis, there is a disruption or breakdown in a person’s normal pattern of functioning that cannot be resolved by their typical way of solving problems. A crisis may arise due to family situations, economic situations, community situations, significant life events, and/or natural elements or disasters. I help people establish new ways of coping with problems. I help outline steps needed to achieve goal(s), and provide support, reassurance and while safeguarding the individual from harming themselves or others.

In long-term situations, a social worker will meet with a person and/or family on an ongoing basis. During each meeting, a social work will listen, provide support and encouragement, make suggestions, reinforce what is working or going well, introduce alternative ways to cope or deal with stress and problems, and provide resources or referrals if needed.

TSC – What happens during an assessment?

BB – During an assessment, I will ask about biological (medical issues and history which can impact other areas of life), psychological (a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and overall mental state), and social (social circumstances and how these influence mental and physical health) factors as well as use brief assessments to help me better understand the individual, the cause of their problems or stress, and ways to resolve the problems or stress. We will also discuss goals, or what you would hope to achieve in our work together, how often we should meet, and how we should meet (i.e., in person, virtually)

TSC – How often do people typically see a social worker?

BB – People usually meet with social worker on a routine basis which is determined by needs, goals, and personal preference. I typically see clients once a week or every other week. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I see patients in person, by video such as Zoom, and by phone. We will work together to develop a plan that meets your unique needs.

TSC – What is the best part or being a social worker?

BB – I chose to become a social worker because of the profession’s commitment to social justice, continuous learning, and most importantly, empowering individuals. I absolutely love that I am always able to support individuals and families achieve their dreams, desires, and goals. But the best part of what I do is being able to listen to people’s stories and perspectives – so much learning and transformation can happen just by listening. I am consistently in awe of and inspired by my patient’s resilience.

TSC – What is special about Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic?

BB – Taylor Street Clinic is special because of our caring, professional, responsive staff. We are also unique because we can address multiple aspects of health and wellness in one place. Physical health problems increase our risk of developing mental health problems, and vice versa. I like being part of a team that can address the whole person.

To support National Social Work Month you can share this post, learn more about social work by visiting www.naswnc.org , and most importantly, you can schedule an appointment with a social worker. Social work services at Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic include a mental health screening, assessment, consultation, individual counseling, education, and connection to resources. Brittany Banks is currently accepting new patients. Schedule an appointment by calling Taylor Street Clinic at 313-486-5501.