Crisis intervention specialist details a day in her role
Jamie Meyer began working as a crisis intervention specialist at Butler’s Center for Community Resources about a year ago.
“Every day is so different,” Meyer said. “You just never know what’s going to ring on the other end.”
She began work with the center as part of an internship for her bachelor’s degree in social work.
“I got hired on right after graduation,” she said. “I knew I wanted to do something with mental health, so it worked out for me.”
It was Meyer’s mother who inspired her.
“She was a nurse, and she worked in mental health,” she said. “I knew nursing wasn’t for me, but I wanted do something along those lines — as far as helping people.”
As a crisis intervention specialist, Meyer regularly helps residents of the county find resources and support for mental health, housing, drug and alcohol counseling, and health care services.
“This agency does everything,” Meyer said “Even if we don’t do it, the building down the road offers it — whether it’s rental assistance, or you need an (intellectual disabilities) supports coordinator or a drug and alcohol case worker. We, at least, can point you in the right direction.”
Pointing callers in the right direction is at the core of what the center’s crisis intervention specialists do. And the county, according to Meyer, has a wealth of services available.
“I feel like maybe people aren’t aware of the services in our own county,” she said. “You have people in your community who are out there to help you.”
For Meyer, every call is different and requires a different service or resource.
“Making sure that they’re immediately safe is the first thing — that they’re not in any danger while we talk,” she said.
After establishing that the caller is safe, Meyer starts to determine why they’re calling and develop solutions.
“It’s sort of, ‘How can we make sure that you get through this?’ — even if it’s just through this hour, this day,” she said. “Then, we can follow up and tackle it as small, manageable things.”
From there Meyer can provide resources and contacts to aid in managing the situation.
“Everyone’s crisis looks different,” she said. “There are a lot of (calls about) housing — that’s been a big stressor for people, utility costs are going up — people have a hard time at work and just managing stress day to day. People call in to vent, too.”
But Meyer said her day doesn’t begin and end on the phone.
“We support law enforcement, going out to help people with mental health issues,” she said. “We go to schools, a lot when school is in session, and work with the kids there. You never know what your day’s going to hold.”
Whatever the situation and whatever the solution, Meyer stressed the importance of simply reaching out.
“Reach out now, before it gets to that point where it’s too overwhelming to do anything about it,” she said. “Even if you just need linkage to resources, or don’t know where to start, it’s worth a call — we’re 24/7.”
