Young Men and Mental Health: The Cost of Suffering in Silence
Some of the strongest people I have ever known were also the most silent about their pain, especially the young men. I’m 35 years old, and our society has come such a long way in how we view mental health in the last 20 years. I distinctly remember being 16 years old and struggling with […]
Managing Stress in Behavioral Health:The Power of Resetting the Room with COO Katie Vokes
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we talk a lot about showing up for our patients and each other. Still, the reality is, people don’t walk in the door at 100% every day, especially in behavioral health, where our teams are carrying patient care, operational demands, emotional weight, and everything that happens outside of work. And yet, […]
Addiction Treatment – Social Model or Medical Model?
Treatment for substance use disorders (addiction or SUD) comes in many forms. The”best fit” may vary significantly depending on an individual’s background, history of use, medical comorbidities, support system, and other factors. Two specific models of addiction treatment are often discussed—the medical model of addiction treatment and the social model of addiction treatment. The […]
How Workplace Culture Impacts Patient Outcomes and Staff Satisfaction
A few weeks ago, I had a patient tell me that she was very nervous to come to treatment. She said that once she was here, she found the staff to be compassionate, professional, knowledgeable, and happy. The word happy resonated with me because, as the Chief Operating Officer at Sanford Behavioral Health, I have […]
