Behavioral Health

What is Peer Support?

Peer Support is all about connection, understanding, and hope. Peers are people who have lived experience with mental health challenges and/or substance use. By sharing their stories and experiences, peers inspire others, show that recovery is possible, and help create a sense of belonging in the community.

Peer support helps prevent relapse, promotes long-term recovery, and builds stronger, healthier communities.

How Peer Support Helps

Peers provide support in many different settings — including hospitals, jails, treatment centers, courts, schools, and crisis centers. Research shows that peer support can:

• Reduce symptoms and hospitalizations
• Improve wellbeing and self-esteem
• Increase community involvement
• Shorten hospital stays and reduce costs
• Encourage lasting recovery

There are no medical or psychiatric requirements to receive peer support services. You don’t need to be enrolled in a mental health or addiction program. All peer-delivered services in Clackamas County are peer-run and free for anyone seeking support and recovery.

Peer Support Programs in Clackamas County

Oregon law allows a person to be treated for a mental illness against their will if they are experiencing an emotional disturbance and are imminently dangerous to themselves or others or are unable to care for their basic needs. To be committed, a person must meet the above standards in a court hearing where critical information is presented in the form of testimony in front of a judge and the person considered for commitment. If an individual is committed, he or she may receive involuntary treatment for up to 180 days. Our Commitment Monitoring staff assess whether persons who are committed continue to meet commitment criteria and work with hospitals and community agencies to determine a plan for a safe transition to the community and to voluntary treatment as appropriate.

Hours

Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. We are closed on federal holidays and court furlough days.

Contact

Call 503-655-8585 and ask to speak with a mental health investigator.

We are proud to be part of Oregon's effort to invest in senior behavioral health. By investing in our older adults, we ensure that they will thrive in our community.

Today 15.4% of Oregonians are 65 years or older. By 2030, that number will increase to 20%, with the over 75 age group growing even faster.

Nationally, this trend impacts behavioral health in the following ways:

• 15-20% of older adults have depression, which if untreated leads to other health problems including negative change in memory, loss of interest in activities, isolated behavior, trouble sleeping, and more
• Men aged 75 and older have the highest suicide rate
• Up to 15% of older adults are at-risk drinkers
• Up to 23% of older adults deal with prescription drug misuse
• Effective collaboration, care coordination, and well-trained workers will ensure the health, safety, and independence of older adults

Senior Loneliness Line

The Senior Loneliness Line is a 24/7 crisis line that offers help to older adults and their loved ones throughout Oregon.

This free, confidential service serves adults 55 and older who may be isolated or lonely. Volunteers and staff are specially trained in working with older adults, and can provide ongoing support, connect you with resources, or just listen.

Sometimes knowing there is someone who cares and wants to listen can be of great help. Call 503-200-1633 or visit their website.

Clackamas County Writes

Community Connections Through Physical Distancing

While we are all feeling the impact of the pandemic, older adults are experiencing isolation and loneliness now more than ever as a result of COVID-19. You can help! Clackamas County has partnered with the Senior Loneliness Line and adult community centers on the Clackamas County Writes project. We’re inviting the community, especially young people, to write letters and create artwork as a way of creating connection with older adults in this time of physical distancing. The Senior Loneliness Line or adult community centers will ensure your letter of artwork are distributed to a lonely or isolated older adult in our community.

Getting Started Instructions

1. Begin writing! Please write big and legibly. You can write about your favorite hobbies and interests, tell a story, draw a picture or ask beautiful questions. To make sure your letter is easy to read, feel free to print out our template. (Usar el modelo para la carta.)
2. Sign your letter with your first name and age only. Avoid personal information like your address or financial information.
3. Use a sponge to seal your envelope closed to avoid the spread of germs.
4. Send finished letters by mail or email. Below are the addresses of locations currently accepting letters.

How do I register my organization to receive letters?

Contact the Clackamas County OABHI Team at oabhi@clackamas.us to list your organization as a participating partner. You’ll need to be prepared to screen the letters, removing them from the envelopes to keep the writers-personal information safe, and screening for personal or inappropriate information.

Clackamas Mental Health Center is a walk-in center for people in urgent need of mental health care. Our services include brief counseling, safety screenings and referral to other resources. We also provide peer-delivered services, so people in need can get support from someone who has traveled similar roads of distress and has progressed in their own recovery. Our skilled staff includes trained mental health specialists, intensive case managers, peer support specialists, and a medical professional who work together to care for individuals and families in need.

There are two convenient ways to access our services

Clackamas Crisis and Support Line 24/7

The Clackamas Crisis and Support Line is a free and confidential telephone resource staffed by trained, caring individuals who can help callers work through a crisis — however big or small. We offer suicide screening and can help create a safety plan.

Even if there is no crisis, we will offer support, connection, information and education. Interpretation services are available for non-English speakers. This service is available anytime, day or night.

But if you're not in Clackamas County or don't have the number at hand, there's an easy-to-remember nationwide resource available, too. Dial 9-8-8 to reach the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Mobile Crisis Response

Our Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) provides face-to-face therapeutic responses in settings where a mental health crisis is occurring. This can be in an individual's home, at a school, in a business and even on a street corner. The goal of mobile crisis services is to help you or your loved one resolve the mental health crisis where you are. Our mobile crisis teams include Masters level clinicians, Care Coordinators, and Peer Support Specialists.

Other Resources

• Notice of Privacy Practices
• The Legal System and Mental Health

If you are a Clackamas county resident in need of counseling services, we can help. We serve children, youth, families and adults who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties.

Services are available to Oregon Health Plan members or residents who don't have insurance.

Services

• assessments or evaluation to help decide what services you need
• office-based counseling for individuals
• groups focusing on mental health conditions, life skills and symptom management
• medications for mental health conditions
• hospital care for mental illness
• job services for people managing severe mental health conditions
• in-home services for adults experiencing severe mental health conditions
• peer services and supports

Youth and families

• skills training for parents and children
• community-based services for children and families experiencing severe mental health conditions