Mental Health Awareness Month is coming to an end, and we would like to close it out by highlighting Nicole Seeback and Talaina Floyd, two of our dedicated staff members who provide support and treatment to individuals with mental health issues.
Nicole, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, brings seven years of experience in providing direct service, crisis intervention and triage to individuals and families facing mental health and substance use crises. Her expertise spans clinical development, oversight of dual diagnosis and chemical dependency treatment programs, and providing treatment for acute-level clients within the criminal justice system.
Talaina, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), offers more than six years of experience in intensive mental health and substance use treatment, including individual and group therapy in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Trained in multisystemic therapy and dialectical behavior therapy treatment modalities, Talaina brings valuable experience from her involvement with Child Protective Services’ Emergency Response Team.
Their dedication and expertise exemplify the importance of Mental Health Awareness Month and the ongoing efforts to support individuals in need. Below is a quick Q&A with Nicole and Talaina.
Why is Mental Health Awareness Month so important?
Nicole: Mental Health Awareness Month is a way to destigmatize talking about mental health and provide a safe way for people to bring up and discuss something personal. Mental health awareness is a great way to show others they are not alone as the hard topics are discussed and those tough feelings are brought to the forefront and acknowledged.
What does recognizing this month mean to you?
Talaina: This month is an opportunity to educate the community about what mental health is, and provide local resources that can help someone in crisis. Additionally, we can bring awareness to the issues that individuals suffering from mental illness face, stigmas surrounding mental illness/getting help, and ways to support individuals who may be suffering from mental illness.
Why did you decide to work in the County’s Behavioral Health division?
Nicole: I feel the County is a great place to help make a difference and help elevate the services available to those most in need. The County’s values and mission statement are in line with the type of care and customer service that I want to provide. I specifically chose to work with the Mobile Crisis Support Team because I did not want a desk job. The Mobile Crisis Team seemed exciting and fast-paced and it is a great way to help implement the changes that are being requested. This role can bridge the gap between law enforcement, social services and the community by introducing trauma-informed client-centered care.
What do you do for the County and its residents?
Talaina: I work with the Mobile Crisis Support Team, a unique team of clinicians that respond to 9-1-1/non-emergency calls involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. This team partners with Law Enforcement and utilizes clinical expertise to assist with crisis intervention and linkage to community providers.
What do you think our residents need to know about mental health moving forward?
Nicole: Mental health can affect anyone and addressing mental health concerns early is very important. Discussing mental health concerns does not mean one is weak and it does not need to be taboo to talk about how one is feeling. To me, having good mental health really means someone is thriving at meeting their needs and coping effectively with the day-to-day stressors in their environment. Helping others to understand the human connection that is a part of mental and emotional wellness is huge. As humans, we rely on that interpersonal connection to succeed in life. Relationships are the foundation of all things. I would hope that people as a whole get to a point where talking about mental health would be the same as talking about physical health.
What is your wish for the future when it comes to mental health services?
Talaina: My wish would be that society reaches a point where mental health services are easy to access and free to anyone in need and that there is more public awareness regarding statewide community resources and education about how to access them.
Is there anything else you would like to add on the topic of mental health or your work in this field?
Nicole: I wish more people knew about available resources and that access was easy to navigate. Additionally, I hope people start to take preventative measures to ensure their mental and emotional wellness just as one takes a daily vitamin or works out to ensure their physical wellness.
