Nearly one out of every five members of the Paso del Norte community have a behavioral health disorder and of those nearly 25% are living with serious mental illnesses or substance abuse disorder. While these figures fall in line with other communities, factors such as high levels of individuals with little or no health insurance coverage pose unique challenges in our border region. The stigma associated with the treatment of mental health in the Hispanic and military cultures can also make it difficult for individuals to seek out treatment and learn how to manage their illness. Mental illness however is just like other medical conditions, the earlier the treatment begins the better the outcome for the person and their families.
Therefore, mental health education and awareness is key in our community. Through the Emergence Health Network Mental Health Learning Library training courses, we can ensure our residents understand what mental illness is and learn that managing the diagnosis and recovery is possible.
Whether it is a comprehensive Mental Health First Aid course or more targeted training on suicide prevention, grief management, or stress reduction the Mental Health Learning Library provides knowledge to recognize signs and symptoms of behavioral health concerns and how to seek out appropriate services. All classes are available in English and Spanish.
To schedule a training send an email to lchavarria@ehnelpaso.org or call (915)235-6996
Courses include:
The EHN Emergency Crisis Services are available 24-hours, seven days a week. Clients can access the services by calling the EHN Crisis Hotline or by visiting our Extended Observation Unit located at 1601 East Yandell Drive, El Paso Texas 79902.
Click here for directions to Crisis Services 1601 Yandell Drive
EHN operates five outpatient clinics throughout the El Paso area, two of which have pharmacies located nearby to provide convenient access to medication. The Recovery Based Outpatient Care is provided by Outpatient Treatment Teams located at the clinics. Each team is composed of Physician, Case Manager, Rehabilitation Staff, Peer Providers (as applicable), counselors and support staff. Medication, family education, and rehabilitative services are provided to consumers through individual, group, and/or family sessions.
EHN offers two Integrated Primary Medical Care Clinics which include a team of primary care and behavioral health providers who work together to establish the coordination of mental health, substance abuse, and primary care services at this one location. Integrated care produces the best outcomes and is the most effective approach to caring for people with complex healthcare needs. One clinic is located in West El Paso, the other in the Northeast part of the city.
The Medicated-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program is offered at the Westside Integrated Primary Care Clinic. The MAT Program is the use of medications while combining counseling and behavioral strategies to help treat substance use disorders. Our program is designed to help individuals struggling with addiction of opioids (i.e. heroin and/or prescription drugs like OxyContin or Vicodin) and alcohol. Research has shown with the combination of medication and behavioral therapy, the success rate increases when treating substance use disorders by helping those sustain recovery. Medications used in our program are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and therapy treatment is tailored to meet each individual’s need. Our MAT program’s Medical Director, Dr. C. Thornburg, specializes in Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine.
Patients who are eligible for this program must be willing to detox from opiates and/or alcohol and adhere to the following:
All clinics are open Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and closed most holidays.
Central Outpatient Clinic
Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm
1551 Montana Avenue, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 747-3510
Westside Integrated Primary Care Clinic
Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm
725 S. Mesa Hills Bldg. 1 Suite 1, El Paso, TX 79912
(915) 887-3414
ChAMHPs Child and Adolescent Clinic
Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm
8500 Boeing Drive, El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 599-6600
East Valley Outpatient Clinic and Pharmacy
Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm
2400 Trawood Dr., Suite 301 A, El Paso, TX 79936
(915) 599-6735
Alternatives Outpatient Clinic (northeast)
Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm
7760 Alabama Street
(915) 759-2870
At EHN we are committed to serving the El Paso community’s mental health needs. That is why we offer counseling services for individuals, families, groups and couples. This includes children ages 3-17 and adults who may need help with behavioral issues, eating disorders, grief and loss, marriage counseling, PTSD, depression, anxiety, ADHD, LGBTQ, anger issues, family conflict ,self –esteem and other life experiences.
Our licensed clinicians are trained in several therapeutic approaches to serve the community. All EHN therapists are certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and reflect the principles of a recovery focused model. Our clinical staff is also trained in EMDR, DBT, TF-CBT, Play Therapy, among other modalities.
Peer support specialists are people in recovery from mental illness who work to help others get well. Peer support specialists are different than therapists or doctors because they have learned about mental illness and recovery, not from a book, but through their own personal experience. Peer support specialists are living proof that recovery is real. Their role at Emergence is to share their experience with clients to inspire and assist with their own recovery.
To find out when the Peer Support Groups meet click HERE
Through its Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) Program, EHN has mental health providers specially trained in First-Episode Psychosis Treatment. CSC consumers are provided with psychotherapy, family support and education, medication management, supported employment, housing, and education, along with case management. The use of Coordinated Specialty Care has shown to more effective at reducing symptoms, improving quality of life and increasing involvement in work and school.
First episode psychosis simply refers to the first time someone experiences psychotic symptoms. During this first time episode, an individual may not understand what is happening because the symptoms can be highly disturbing, confusing and unfamiliar.
The word psychosis is used to describe conditions that affect the mind when a person loses contact with reality because of the onset of a mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These individuals may hear or see things that others do not. Feel fearful or suspicious of others, have difficulty concentrating, withdrawal from family and friends, and/or have disorganized speech, behavior and/or thoughts.
Of the majority of people who experience psychosis, the first symptoms typically occur between the ages of 16 and 25, yet it is common for a person to have psychotic symptoms for several months, sometimes more than a year. However, reducing this time of untreated psychosis is important for a better recovery.
Through the Children Adolescent Mental Health Programs (ChAMHPs) EHN provides mental health services for children and adolescents who suffer from a variety of emotional disturbances which cause severe emotional and/or social disability.
In addition, EHN provides assistance through our Youth Empowerment Services (YES) program which is a Medicaid home and community-based service waiver that assists children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbances with the goal of keeping them in the community, living with their families. Counseling Services are also available at EHN for children ages 3-17 who may need help with behavioral issues, eating disorders, grief and loss, PTSD, depression, anxiety, ADHD, anger issues, family conflict, self –esteem and other life experiences. EHN offers addiction screening services as well, free of charge to any Texas resident 13-years and older.
To learn more about these services click here Mental Health Youth Services
EHN offers a variety of services for individuals involved in the legal system starting from when they are booked into a detention facility in El Paso County, to when they are placed on probation or parole. EHN works to stabilize the individual’s mental health with services while incarcerated and when they are back in the community, with the goal of preventing further criminal activity and assisting the individuals with managing their mental health diagnosis.
TCOOMMI
Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments (TCOOMMI) program is designed to monitor, coordinate and implement a continuity of care system for individuals engaged in the legal system. The program involves various levels of service to include intensive and transitional case management to prevent re-arrest and /or incarceration.
Outpatient Competency Restoration (OCR) Program
Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST)
START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources and Treatment) is a person-centered solution-focused approach that employs positive psychology and other evidence-based practices. It’s a national initiative that strengthens efficiencies and service outcomes for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental/behavior health needs in the community. The model helps reduce the use of emergency services and state facility/hospital stays.
Click here to learn more about the EHN START program https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcmIn5UnC1o
Outcomes also include:
Location: 7760 Alabama Street
Emergence Health Network now offers more options when it comes to meeting the mental health and substance abuse treatment needs of the El Paso community. Alternatives Centre began operating in El Paso in 1995 and is now part of EHN’s system of care. The programs at Alternatives at EHN are offered to adults dealing with depression, anxiety, and other behavioral health problems that impact an individuals work, family or daily functioning. This includes a Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Program, BIPP/family violence, substance abuse services, and help with parenting challenges, and anger issues. Many of the programs at Alternatives at EHN also satisfy court-mandated attendance.
To learn more about the Alternatives at EHN services click here https://emergencehealthnetwork.org/alternatives/
Email: mhfa@ehnelpaso.org
Mental Health First Aid is a free 8-hour course offered by certified MHFA trainers in the El Paso area. The course is designed to help the general public identify, understand and respond to an individual in a mental health crisis. It introduces participants to the warning signs of mental illness and provides the skills needed to help stabilize a person, just like CPR helps a layperson with no clinical training, assist a person having a heart attack. The training is intended for a variety of groups such as the friends and family of an individual with mental illness, professionals, school leadership and staff, faith groups, or anyone interested in learning about mental illness. To set up a training for your group contact the EHN MHFA Coordinator.
Location: 7760 Alabama Street
Emergence Health Network, through our Alternatives at EHN services, offers the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for clients with a mental health and/or chemical dependency issues. The PHP provides individuals with the care of a residential treatment program but allows the clients to spend evenings at home. This is beneficial for people who are dealing with problems too severe to be managed in outpatient therapy alone. The program involves a longer treatment visit, usually several hours, than what is typically offered in a doctor’s or therapist’s office. The controlled environment is often a useful step-down transition from acute inpatient care or an alternative to inpatient treatment.
To learn more about programs offered at Alternatives at EHN click here https://emergencehealthnetwork.org/alternatives/
Location: 7760 Alabama Street
Alternatives at EHN offers an Intensive Outpatient Program for individuals who need a structured setting to work towards overcoming mental health, behavioral health, and/or a substance use disorder but who do not need the more intensive care offered in the partial hospitalization program. However, the IOP provides a more structured therapeutic setting than what is typically offered in a traditional outpatient setting. The IOP allows the staffs to help clients several times a week for several hours during the day.
To learn more about Alternatives at EHN services click here https://emergencehealthnetwork.org/alternatives/
