April Is #AlcoholAwarenessMonth
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about how alcohol use can affect health, safety, and well‑being. Alcohol use in the United States is, and has long been, a major public health concern. According to 2024 data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), an estimated 27.9 million people ages 12 and older—about 1 in 10 Americans—are living with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Even more concerning, approximately 178,000 people die each year from alcohol‑related causes.
What Is Risky Alcohol Use?
Risky or unhealthy alcohol use includes drinking patterns that increase the likelihood of health problems or injury, such as:
Binge drinking: 5 or more drinks for men, or 4 or more drinks for women, on a single occasion
Heavy drinking: More than 14 drinks per week for men or 7 for women
Over time, these patterns can raise the risk of serious medical conditions, mental health challenges, and accidents.
Tips for Healthier Choices
Pay attention to portion sizes and pace yourself.
Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or non‑alcoholic options.
Set personal limits before social events.
Check in on how alcohol affects your sleep, mood, and energy.
Support friends or family members in making healthier choices.
Help Is Available
Alcohol Awareness Month reminds us that support is available and recovery is possible. Here at Labette Center for Mental Health Services, Inc. (LCMHS), we offer same‑day admission intakes every day of the week. LCMHS offers comprehensive outpatient services to address risky and dangerous alcohol use, provided by a highly trained and dedicated clinical team. If you or someone you care about is concerned about alcohol use, reaching out can be the first step toward healthier choices and an improved quality of life.
IPS Supported Employment Success Stories
Each quarter, Labette Center's IPS (Individual Placement and Support) Supported Employment program enjoys sharing stories of success. IPS Supported Employment is a voluntary program that provides support to individuals who want to work or go back to work or school. The program helps individuals with behavioral health conditions, to work, and to maintain employment at a regular job of their choice. Individuals who are currently enrolled in service at Labette Center are eligible to access the program.
“MC”
“I found myself at a place in life where I was homeless, my vehicle was broken down and could not afford to fix it, all while experiencing extreme grief from my wife unexpectedly passing. I had no job or hope for getting a job. I was completely overwhelmed, feeling hopeless and like giving up. I was in crisis and that is what brought me to the mental health center.”
When asked what he hoped to find at the mental health center, M.C. said he was seeking healing, help getting a job and a place to live, hope to have quality of life restored, therapy to cope and overcome grief. He says his faith in God helped a lot.
“It was a huge challenge to try to find a job with no address, no transportation and legal history. I was struggling with motivation due to grief and depression. I could not see an end in sight to being denied for employment repeatedly and felt frustrated to keep on trying.
My therapist told me about the IPS Supported Employment program, a service at the mental health center that helps people find employment. “My IPS Specialist kept pushing me forward, bringing me job applications for places I didn’t think about and helped keep my motivation going. She helped me build a resume, coached and prepared me for interviews and helped build my confidence to talk to employers on my own.”
“Now I have a full-time job that I really enjoy. I am no longer homeless because I was able to save enough money to get my own apartment and now, I’m saving money to buy a car. IPS connected me with Kansas Rehabilitation Services, and they helped me get items I needed for work and helped with transportation. And now I earn enough money to buy everything I need on my own. My confidence has increased due to my hard work being recognized by my supervisors and seeing their confidence in me. I’ve received a raise and am being considered for a promotion, and made some new friends at work who have been supportive and helped me.”
“With the support from mental health services, I do not feel so overwhelmed or hopeless. I feel supported. I look forward to going to a job that is rewarding. It has given me a higher level of self-worth and now feel like I can contribute to life around me instead of feeling like I am a burden.
We asked M.C. what he would tell someone who is trying to decide about participating in IPS Supported Employment services. He responded “Definitely do it! Don’t try to talk yourself out of it. Of course, what you put into it is what you will get out of it. But mark my words, the ones that care enough to have these positions in IPS will do everything in their power to help you believe in yourself and not to give up.” M.C. will graduate IPS Services and Kansas Rehabilitation Services this month. Congratulations, M.C.!
“Marie”
Marie first came to the mental health center for services due to feelings of loneliness and emptiness stemming from depression and PTSD from being in an abusive relationship for 15 years. When asked what she hoped to find by coming to the mental health center, she replied “The will to live … because I felt like giving up and was planning suicide when I went in for crisis services. I hoped they could help my find the will to keep going and find hope for a bigger, better and brighter future.”
“I had tried to find a job on my own, but it was very difficult because I did not know what was available or how to apply for the jobs and knew I needed help. They told me about a program at the mental health center, IPS Supported Employment, that helps support people with finding employment. My IPS Specialist helped me make a resume, fill out job applications, turn in job applications and even talked to employers to help me get interviews and helped me prepare for interviews. She helped set me up with Kansas Rehabilitation Services, connecting me with resources for the barriers that made it hard for me to get a good job. IPS helped me to do the things I couldn’t do on my own.”
“Mental health services have helped me in many ways to learn how to cope with symptoms of depression and PTSD, get medical and dental care, and helped me get a full-time job. IPS helped me to do the things I could not do on my own. I recently received a big raise and can actually pay my bills. And now I live in a house instead of a camper and have hope for a better future.” Marie graduated from the Community Support Services and IPS Services at Labette Center for Mental Health Services in March. Congratulations, Marie!
Celebrating Our Team!Two Trained in Peer Support
Harley Stangle-Holland and Miyana Randall attended the in-person Level 2 certification training for Peer Support Specialist in Topeka KS from March 4th-6th. Both successfully passed the exam and are now recognized as KDADs Certified Peer Support Specialist.
According to the KDADs website, "Kansas Certified Peer Specialists (KCPS) have lived experience with sustained mental health recovery and use their recovery stories and experiences to encourage hope and recovery." Certified Peer Specialists at Labette Center meet these standards set by KDADs and have gone through this extensive training to provide peer to peer support to the individuals in Labette County.
Congratulations to Harley and Miyana for achieving this accomplishment.
Labette Center offers a wide range of courses to provide individuals in our community with the tools to assist a person who is struggling with mental health challenges or is a mental health crisis! Visit our website to find out more about Mental Health First Aid and QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) to sign up for an upcoming course or request a course for an organization or group.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an interactive public education program. Through the course, individuals are able to learn how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. Labette Center is proud to be able to provide both the adult and youth versions of this course as well as the brand new teen MHFA.
In QPR the general public is educated about the known warning signs of a suicide crisis: expressions of hopelessness, depression, giving away prized possessions, talking of suicide, securing lethal means, and then taught how to respond.
For more information about signing up for an upcoming course, visit our website!
QPRMental Health First Aid
Download our app today and join the growing community of individuals who are taking control of their mental health care journey.
To access the LCMHS Patient Portal through the website, visit: https://portal.lcmhs.com/ - Be sure to update your current email address with your provider. Individuals can contact Labette Center at 620-421-3770 or check with your provider at your next visit. Download the app "LCMHS Patient Portal" from the App Store or Google Play or visit online through the website. Enter your email address and choose "Help, I can't sign in" to set up the account. Begin accessing YOUR information!
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