Behavioral Health

If you or someone you know needs treatment for substance use or help navigating a path to recovery, there is help.

The Behavioral Health Resource Network (BHRN) is a collaborative group of providers in Clackamas County who receive funding to provide substance use treatment and recovery services for free as part of Measure 110.

There are services in our community:

• In your language
• Appropriate to your culture
• Designed to help understand and overcome what you’ve been through

Services include:

To get started

• Find a provider in the Oregon Substance Use Disorders Services Directory or at Recovery Network of Oregon
• Or contact one of the Behavioral Health Resource Network providers

If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis right now, please call our 24/7 Clackamas Crisis and Support Line at 503-655-8585.

BHRN Providers

The BHRN providers work together as a network to connect people to the right support for their needs. They can provide treatment and resources to any individual who resides within Clackamas County. You can contact a provider directly by choosing the one that best fits your current needs from the list below.

Tri-County Resource Sheet

The Tri-County Resource Sheet includes resources for those trying to start or maintain recovery in their mental health or substance use journey.  Behavioral health clients and staff identified these useful resources.

When suicide affects our community, Clackamas County provides support to encourage resilience, explore resources, and reduce risk among suicide loss survivors. We call this work Postvention, and it is provided by mental health professionals working at the county’s urgent mental health walk in clinic, Clackamas MHC.

What is Suicide Postvention?

Postvention is an organized response following a suicide that aims to reduce further suicide risk by identifying and supporting the emotional and mental health needs of the survivors.

What Postvention Support is Available?

Immediate Support

The Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) and local chaplains are called to the scene after a suicide occurs to provide emotional first aid to families and other impacted individuals. They may offer referrals or resources, such as helping to choose a funeral home. The Medical Examiner will also discuss ongoing Postvention support with loss survivors.

Short- and Long-term Support

With information provided by the Medical Examiner or TIP, the Postvention Team at Clackamas MHC will contact identified survivors to facilitate any or all of the following:

1. Exploring resources, including natural or community supports like suicide loss bereavement groups
2. Offering no cost peer services and mental health treatment at Clackamas MHC
3. Normalizing common grief responses to minimize complicated grief and guilt reactions
4. Inquiring as to who else might need postvention contact
5. Planning a future call to check in and provide additional support, especially around anniversary or other important dates

How do I access Postvention in Clackamas County?

If you or someone you are supporting identify as a suicide loss survivor, please contact the County’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator at gallimur@clackamas.us. Ideally, you will provide the name(s) of the person(s) needing support, contact information and their relationship to the deceased.

For time sensitive needs or for immediate attention or support, please use our 24/7 Crisis and Support Line at 503-655-8585.

What is the Role of Community Partners?

In the event of a known or suspected suicide, Clackamas County asks community partners to communicate this information to the County’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator so that this crucial Postvention support can be offered.

If you lose someone to suicide

It is important to remember that you are not alone, and that millions of people are impacted by suicide loss. The loss of a loved one to suicide is often shocking and deeply upsetting. It is common to feel guilt, emptiness, confusion, anger, or even that your own life is not worth living.

Postvention is an organized response following a suicide that aims to reduce further suicide risk by identifying
and supporting the emotional and mental health needs of the survivors.

If you or someone you are supporting identify as a suicide loss survivor, please contact the county’s Suicide
Prevention Coordinator at gallimur@clackamas.us. Ideally, you will provide the name(s) of the person(s)
needing support, contact information and their relationship to the deceased.
For time-sensitive needs or for immediate attention or support, please use our 24/7 Crisis and Support Line at
503-655-8585.

Support Available to You

Immediate Support

Along with local chaplains, the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) is called to the scene after a suicide occurs to provide emotional first aid to families and other impacted individuals. They may offer referrals or resources, such as helping to choose a funeral home. The Medical Examiner will also discuss ongoing Postvention support with loss survivors.

Short- and Long-term Support

With information provided by the Medical Examiner or TIP, the Postvention Team at Clackamas MHC will
contact identified survivors to facilitate any or all of the following:

1.  Exploring resources, including natural or community supports like suicide loss bereavement groups
2. Offering no cost peer services and mental health treatment at Clackamas MHC
3. Normalizing common grief responses to minimize complicated grief and guilt reactions
4. Inquiring as to who else might need postvention contact
5. Planning a future call to check in and provide additional support, especially around anniversary or other important dates

Resources

• Trauma Intervention Program’s Resource Guide provides suggestions such as how to cope after a suicide, a list of local funeral homes, a list of biohazard cleaning services, Medical Examiner office contact numbers and a list of required information to obtain a death certificate.
• The Dougy Center provides support, resources, and connection after a death for children, teens and their caregivers. Find communication tip sheets, activities, podcasts, and more through their personalized toolkits.
• Suicide Loss Bereavement Groups. Find a free group to attend by putting in your zip code. 
• After a Suicide: Toolkit for Schools includes an overview of key considerations, guidelines for action, do's and don'ts around memorials, and sample materials. 
• A Manager's Guide to Suicide Postvention in the Workplace: 10 Action Steps for Dealing with the Aftermath of Suicide provides information for workplace leadership on how to respond immediately to a suicide, how to plan in the short-term for recovery and what long-term strategies to consider. 
• Speak with an individual who is also a suicide loss survivor by getting in touch with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Healing Conversations program. These individuals offer understanding and guidance in the weeks and months following a suicide death.
  American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Resource and Healing Guide provides information about coping with loss, the survivor loss community, and resources to help with your journey.
• American Association of Suicidology Handbook for Survivors of Suicide is a book for people who have lost a loved one to suicide, written by someone who has suffered the same loss.

How to cope

It is important to take care of yourself after a loss. Here are some ways to be sure you are coping in a healthy way:

• Lean on your community for support as you grieve the loss of a loved one – talking about your loss is an important step in healing.
• Grieve at your own pace. Everyone grieves in different ways, do what feels right for you. Don't be hurried by expectations that it's been "long enough."
• Find a support group. You are not alone, and talking to others who understand about what happened can help enormously.
• Know when to seek professional help. It’s okay to ask for help. We have trained professionals available 24/7, by calling the Crisis and Support Line at 503-655-8585.

Clackamas MHC’s telehealth program connects people with the care they need, wherever they are. Using sophisticated, state-of-the-art technology, mental health staff can consult, diagnose and treat patients, virtually, in real time — no matter where they’re located.

To advise the Board of County Commissioners and the Behavioral Health Division Director on community needs, gaps in services, barriers and priorities related to providing mental health and addictions services in the County.

The Mental Health and Addictions Council meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. If you would like to participate on this community advisory council, please email kkern@clackamas.us for more information and to confirm meeting time and location.

Scheduled as needed: Biennial Plan, Strategic Planning, Budget Review, Program Updates, Provider Reports; Review & Comment for state licensure.

Members

• Teresa Melville, President
• Glenn (Bo) Brinson, Vice President
• Sheri Price, Secretary
• Pam Pearce, Executive Member
• Mary Ann Andrews
• Adam Caba
• Beto Contreras
• Ashley Cross
• Sara Clement
• Rae Gordon
• Dave Hunt
• Cathy Horey
• Catherine LeJeal
• Sarah Schindlbeck