May 2026
Volume 15 | Issue 5
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! (mham2026) May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, share resources and support the individuals and communities who need it most. Mental health is a part of everyday life. It shapes how we think, feel, connect with others and move through the world. Mental health touches every part of life - from housing and work to relationships and communities. When mental health challenges arise, they often intersect with substance use, and whole person care that addresses both is essential to lasting recovery and well-being. By the Numbers According to the CDC, based on a 2023 survey given to high school students, 29% (1 in 3) high school students reported their mental health was no got most of the time or always during 30 days prior to the survey. Poor mental health days included stress, anxiety and depression. (Life Satisfaction & Healthy Days | Mental Health | CDC) A 2024 study showed that 5% or 1 in 20 adults in the United States regularly reported feelings of depression while 19% or 1 in 5 adults were told by a doctor or other healthcare professional that they had any type of depression disorder. In Kansas that numbers were at 21.3% for 2024, 1.3% higher than the national average. (Mental Health Conditions & Care | Mental Health | CDC) Tips for Healthier Choices Build emotional awareness and regulation. Foster supportive relationships. Engage in physical activity. Practice mindfulness and relaxation. Prioritize sleep. Eat a balanced diet. Limit media overload. Maintain a routine. Spend time in nature. Help Is Available Mental Health 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 a variety of mental health situations, provided by a highly trained and dedicated clinical team. If you or someone you care about is suffering with a mental health challenge, reaching out can be the first step toward healthier choices and an improved quality of life.
IPS Supported Employment Success Stories Each month, 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. “SB” SB first came to the Labette Center for Mental Health Services seeking help with her anxiety. She had experienced trauma in her life and then a family member accidentally killed someone. She needs help processing through her complicated feelings and emotions over what happened. She was also experiencing anxiety over finding stable and substantial employment. She wasn’t sure who was hiring and felt her only options to accommodate her and her husband’s work schedules with three young children were retail or fast food. We asked what she found to be most helpful to her in working with the IPS Supported Employment program. She replied “Receiving help with the job search and learning about job opportunities I didn’t know about. They helped connect me to the community and employers and talked with employers to help me find the right job fit. The mental health center helped me get on the right medication, that she can take consistently, to better manage my anxiety and depression.” “Since finding this part-time job with a flexible schedule, I can pay my bills. I feel more secure in meeting my financial goals. I still struggle with feeling inadequate, but I keep going.” SB’s employer gives very positive feedback on her work performance and enjoys having her as part of the team. They have even offered for her to move to full-time, but the part-time flexible schedule works best for her family needs right now. When asked what she would tell someone considering IPS Supported employment services, she stated “It’s very helpful because they have resources and connections”. SB has been working successfully in her job for over 5 months now and is ready to graduate IPS Services. Congratulations, SB! “Pheonix” Pheonix first came to the mental health center for services when she found herself homeless, unemployed and unsure how she was going to make it through. “I was really struggling. I couldn’t drive my car because I couldn’t pay for tags or insurance. Not being able to get around was a major hinderance for me in trying to find a job. “I was referred to the IPS Supported Employment program at Labette Center for Mental Health Services. My IPS Specialist helped me see that I’ve had the right skills to get a good job all along, but that I just needed a boost in confidence and help connecting to resources and employers. She helped me obtain a great job fit as a Business Office Manager.” She has a flexible schedule and really loves her job. She was able to get tags and insurance for her car. “It has really rebuilt my self-esteem. My life isn’t much different, it’s just better.” When asked if she has seen any positive changes in her mental wellbeing since working in this job, Pheonix replied “Absolutely! If it weren’t for the Mental Health Team at Labette Center, I don’t know where I would be right now.” She went on to say “If you are someone trying to decide if you want to participate in the IPS program, please do it! You get what you put into it. As long as you stay in contact and put in the work, they will work for you!”. Pheonix has been working successfully for over three months and is ready to graduate IPS Services. The IPS Supported Employment program is a voluntary program and graduation from services is completely individualized to when the participant feels they have achieved their employment goals. Congratulations, Pheonix!
Celebrating Our Team! On April 9th and 10th Peter Smith, Clinical Director, traveled to Johnson County to help provide an ASIST training. (ASIST is a two-day suicide prevention workshop designed to give individuals information and tools to assist those who may be dealing with a mental health crisis.) On April 22nd, Peter Smith, Clinical Director, and Kylie Jenkins, Intern/Children's Case Manager, presented at Labette Community College. Michelle Tiecke, Housing Support Specialist, traveled to Manhattan, KS from April 23rd-April 24 to attend the 2026 Summit on Homelessness and Housing. This year's event theme was "Transforming Kansas: Local Communities Uniting to End Homelessness", which was geared towards reflecting the power of community-driven efforts and the importance of working together. Filled with a wide variety of speakers and information, Michelle expressed that it was packed full days that were greatly enjoyed. Three staff members attended NatCon, provided by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in Denver Colorado between April 25th - April 29th. Monica Simpson attended the one-day MHFA Summit on the 25th, while Misti Mustain, CCBHC Director and Robert Queen, CSS Director, attended the full NatCon Conference. NatCon provided a variety of opportunities for attending sessions for continued learning and keynote speakers, which offered inspiring stories of recovery and resilience. There were also many great things that happen in the many hallway conversations and connections during breaks. The conference provided a way to recharge with the environment of energy and purpose. This year the conference offered a heavy focus on new technology with AI platforms, electronic health records, and ways to connect with people through technology. Misti stated that she was able to attend sessions hearing innovative ways to look at mobile crisis, inspiring stories of peer support work, and how to make Labette Center's CCBHC services stronger through community partnerships and collaboration. "One of the keynote speeches revolved around the idea of making each day great and finding the purpose, meaning, and vision in what we do for our community in mental health care is what made NatCon an inspiration," stated Mustain.
Sign Up TODAY for MHFA and QPR
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!
QPR
Mental 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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