Behavioral Health

What is Peer Support?

Peers are people who self-identify as having lived experience of mental health and/or substance use.  By sharing their lived experiences, peers bring hope to people experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges.  Peers promote a sense of belonging within the community.  Peer support services help prevent relapse and promote sustained recovery from mental health and/or substance use.

Peers provide services in a variety of settings, including hospitals, jail, treatment centers, courts, schools, and crisis centers, just to name a few.  Research shows us that peer supports reduce symptoms and hospitalizations; improve wellbeing, self-esteem, and increase participation in community; decrease lengths of hospital stays and cost of services; and encourage thorough and lasting recovery.

There are no medical or psychiatric criteria required to qualify for peer delivered services.  For most peer support programs, individuals are NOT required to be enrolled or admitted into any mental health or addiction treatment program.  All peer delivered services available in Clackamas County are peer run and free to anybody seeking support and recovery.

Starting a conversation about mental health does not need to be uncomfortable, and it can make all the difference. Check out these resources to learn how to support a friend — or get help for yourself. You have the power to help people going through a mental health crisis.

You don't need to be an expert to be a part of this work — just a good listener. If you notice someone who might be struggling — start a conversation. And if all is well, that person will know you're someone who cares enough to ask. Asking, "Are you okay?" can change lives.

Create a Safer Home

As a gun owner, you can choose from multiple options for securely storing and protecting from unauthorized use of your firearms when they are not in use. Clackamas County is offering gun storage options at no cost and as inventory allows to our community members.

Complete the form to indicate the type and quantity of item(s) you are requesting and arrange for pickup at our Oregon City office. If you are unable to pick up, please let us know and we may be able to arrange for delivery.

Learn how to install a firearm cable lock here.

Learn about other ways to create a safer home for your family here. 

Request storage items

Ask the Question Project

The Ask the Question Project shines a light on the lived experience of suicide attempt survivors, through a lens of hope and connection.

Watch their stories at Ask the Question.

Your mental health benefits

Oregon Health Plan pays for mental health services for children, youth, families and adults. Get more information about your benefits and the services available to you in the Member Handbook.  

You can also access the Health Share of Oregon Member Handbook — see below for more information.

If you have questions about your benefits or need help getting services, please call us at 503-742-5335. Our TTY number is 7-1-1 or 1-800-735-2900.

Our office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Our office is closed on Fridays.

• Notice of Nondiscrimination
• Language Interpretation Services Available

Looking for mental health and substance use services?

Find a provider for yourself or a family member. Visit Health Share of Oregon to see a list of providers that is covered by your plan.

Health transformation in Oregon: what does it mean for you?

With this combined effort you will be able to keep you same doctors, pharmacies, clinics and specialists — but they will be working more closely together for you in the future. If you have questions or would like more information, you can go to Health Share of Oregon.

As Health Share of Oregon begins serving Oregon Health Plan members, you will begin receiving more information. You can also access the Health Share of Oregon Handbook.

Contact Health Share of Oregon Customer Service:

• 503-416-8090
• 1-888-519-3845
• TTY/TDD: 711

As a community member there are ways to become involved and have an active role in improving your health and the health of your family. Health Share of Oregon has a Community Advisory Council (CAC). The council provides recommendations to Health Share of Oregon Board of Directors on the strategic direction of the organization.

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.

Download the Media & Mental Health Toolkit

With generous support from Providence Health & Services Oregon, we have created the "Mind the Story Mental Health Matters for All: Media & Mental Health Toolkit." Our hope is that it will be used as a tool for people to communicate fairly and safely about mental illness and suicide. We have written it from a behavioral health perspective to emphasize hope, treatment and recovery.

We see the media as an important partner to support individuals, their families and friends find resources for help and for the public to learn about mental health, mental illness and suicide prevention. We offer this toolkit as a resource for the media and others communicating about these key public health issues.

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.

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