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otherJune 29, 2014

In the nearly 20 years that Audrey Burger has worked at the Community Counseling Center in Cape Girardeau, the not-for-profit organization's programming has tripled, and it's grown from treating some 3,000 patients to 8,000 patients in a five-county service area...

The Gallery of Inspiration at Bilderbach's Art Plaza in Downtown Cape Girardeau features artwork completed by people with mental illnesses. (Laura Simon)
The Gallery of Inspiration at Bilderbach's Art Plaza in Downtown Cape Girardeau features artwork completed by people with mental illnesses. (Laura Simon)

In the nearly 20 years that Audrey Burger has worked at the Community Counseling Center in Cape Girardeau, the not-for-profit organization's programming has tripled, and it's grown from treating some 3,000 patients to 8,000 patients in a five-county service area.

Still, the stigma attached to mental illness remains pervasive, though it may be less severe than it used to be.

"People with a mental illness don't want to be tagged as a mentally ill person," says John Hudak, the center's executive director.

Asking for help is often the most difficult step for a person with a mental illness. Many would-be patients are afraid to seek help, unaware of the services available, or have become so used to living with their symptoms that it doesn't occur to them that life can be better, Hudak says.

"If people come and get help, we can help them and they will get better," says Burger, the center's clinical operations director and a licensed clinical social worker. "[A mental illness] doesn't mean you have a death sentence or it's stamped on your forehead that you're mentally ill. There are a lot of high-functioning people who are mentally ill. ... Whenever it starts to interfere with your day and your functioning is when most people get the courage to walk through the doors."

Utahna Hancock, a therapist at The Dale & Hancock Center in Cape Girardeau, has worked in the mental health field for more than 20 years and says counseling has become more widely used since she earned her degree in art therapy in 1991. Mental health also has become more research-oriented and scientific, adds Bob Dale, director and therapist there.

"Some parts of society not only recognize, but welcome, the help of psychologists and the counseling they can give to families," Dale says. "But there are still those who hang onto the 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps and carry on' attitude."

More light has been shone on mental health care in the past few years, in part because of acts of violence committed by people who are mentally ill. However, Hudak says it's important to remember that most people who have a mental illness don't commit crimes. One reaction to the news has been a rise in conversation about the mental health care system, including access to care.

"With emotional or mental issues, people think they can hide it or that it will go away on its own," says Dale. "How long do you want to let something stop you from living life to the fullest?"

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Medication, counseling or a combination of the two can make a big difference, though they do require time and patience.

"Counseling is not a quick-fix process. You don't get in and walk out with an instant cure," Dale says.

And, says Burger, "Medication is not going to teach you how to cope."

Outpatient psychiatry is the service most in demand at the Community Counseling Center, and depression is the most common condition addressed, say Burger and Hudak. The center provides an array of other services, including an emergency division, group homes, support groups, educational programs, community-based programs and co-occurring services, meaning that mental issues and substance abuse are addressed together.

The center treats patients of all ages; there is a Psychosocial Rehab Jr. program for younger patients, and outpatient therapists work in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson school districts to help identify children who might have mental illnesses.

The main difference in treating children versus adults, say Burger and Hudak, is that treatment emphasizes an entire system of people in that child's life: teachers, juvenile officers, parents and more.

"The biggest task when working with kids is working with their parents," says Hancock. In other words, parents must be on board with their child's treatment.

Dale and Hancock say anxiety and work-related stress are the most common issues treated at their center, while depression, family issues and couples counseling are also common.

Hancock says she has some clients who don't tell their closest friends and family that they're receiving therapy, while others are very open about the fact that they have sought counseling. But whether you choose to tell others about your appointments or not, the most important thing is to make the appointment in the first place, the therapists agree – to "tackle it and move on," as Dale says.

"All these things stop you from being whole and living a full life," he says. "There are things that can be done to help you get better. All you have to do is make an appointment."

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