Sadness, anxiety, anger, mood swings, struggles at school, work or home that we can’t seem to manage or overcome. We’ve all been through it and often try to take the stoic approach to resolution: tough it out and hope it will go away.
“True, it may,” says Shaundreca Love, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at East Grant Community Health Center. “However, this is something that, if persistent, can seep into other areas of your life. Maybe it’s first evident at home but not at work. Then it’s in both. If individuals ignore the warning signs, mental health issues can exacerbate, leading to problems that may be more widespread than most realize.”
Good news is that help is available right here in Grant Parish through the Behavioral Health Department at East Grant Community Health Center. At East Grant, help can be found not only for depression and anxiety but also for ADHD, Bipolar disorder, PTSD and co- occurring substance abuse disorders. PMHNP Love can conduct evaluations, diagnose, create treatment plans, prescribe and manage medications, and refer for psychotherapy and counseling.
Unfortunately, she says, many have the idea that psychiatric treatment focuses on a medication-only approach. “When you seek help with mental health, it’s not scary. It’s not just medication…it’s care. We take a holistic and individualized approach. Our evaluation will determine the issue and its severity. Needed services may be counseling from our in-house
Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Practical Counselor or perhaps a referral to other psychiatric services in and around the community. Sometimes the symptoms can be shown to be medical in nature and treated as such.”
She adds that reluctance of an individual to seek help may be due to financial constraints, societal stigma, and cultural or personal beliefs, but this reluctance can lead to delayed treatment, worsening symptoms, or isolation. Her recommendation? “If you are struggling with sadness or anxiety and it interferes with daily functioning, it is beneficial to get it checked out. You’ll be better equipped to manage life stressors.”
PMHNP Love explains that she herself is from Alexandria, with her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Nursing degrees from NSU. The mother of three is happy to report that “yes, this is a job but I love what I do. It’s like a ministry, connecting with the community to be the help they need.”
While her children occupy much of her time outside of work, she tells the Journal that she enjoys travel, describing that as site-seeing and restaurant-eating. PMHNP Love likes crafting and decorating her home.
East Grant Community Health Center is a federally-qualified health center and cares for all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Services provided are from “ages 5
to 99.”
