A Void, Unfilled

It has been a month since Southeastern Illinois Counseling Centers closed their doors in Flora, Olney and here in Fairfield. Since then others have tried to fill the void but that hasn’t happened.

I know of at least one agency that is working to occupy the Fairfield office with similar services, but they are early in the process and do not want their identity revealed.

In the meantime, I’ve checked and there are wait lists at both Horizon and Christopher Rural Health for mental health services. That tells me that demand is stretching the ability of those two agencies to serve those left in the lurch by Southeastern.

I grew up in a family where tough breaks were seen as challenges we needed to bow our necks and get through. My family seemed to accept that some of our relatives were in desperate need of help…..but that was perceived as a sign of weakness. Mental Health Counseling? Nope….and heaven forbid anyone in our immediate family would suggest going to a counselor.

But depression is real. It grabs us and sometimes can be difficult to escape. I speak from experience. I briefly suffered from depression a few years ago and came to the conclusion that---like it was a broken arm----I needed medical help to heal.

I have never told anybody until now. It was a difficult time in my life and a psychologist helped me unsort the issues and suggested some strategies that helped me recover. I look back now and am grateful for my immediate access to a professional trained in these matters.

That service is not readily available today in the towns formerly serviced by Southeastern Illinois Counseling Centers.

And that needs to be rectified…..quickly.