'Ohana Health Plan provides stability for mentally ill and suicidal clients
Honolulu Star-AdvertiserDec 16, 2019
Chipman struggled the other day to remember how old he is--he's 52--outside of
Chipman has been housed before, but got evicted because of his drinking and because he invited in homeless friends who trashed his place.
So a special team of 'Ohana Health Plan workers work specifically with the most complex Level 5 candidates on
'Ohana Health Plan is the only organization in
"A lot of the Level 5s were sent to us because nobody else really knew what to do with them, " Whipple said. "We don't give up on people even if they 're not ready for housing, even if they're not ready to take medications. A good portion of our folks don't even want to see a psychiatrist, and so we try to meet our members where they're at. ... We walk beside them through their problems and through their issues. Not judging them. Meeting them where they're at."
Across the islands, 'Ohana Health Plan works with 125 Level 5 clients, but the overwhelming majority--88 as of last week--were on
The job requires patience, consistency and collaboration with a wide range of partners including organizations, such as the
"'Ohana has stepped up, " said
Out of 30 beds at RYSE, six or seven are regularly occupied by Level 5 clients being helped by 'Ohana Health Plan's so-called "wrap-around services."
One of them, who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, had been at
Working with 'Ohana Health Plan is "especially crucial for young people that are still trying to figure out Adulthood 101, " Houser said. "A really skilled medical provider team is really essential."
In
He had been sleeping around the
But they have a rocky relationship, and Ka 'alekahi believes his best chance at staying sober is to find his own place outside of
At the same time that he's working on his sobriety, Ka 'alekahi also needs to manage his Type 2 diabetes and is classified as a "super user " at Queen's for diabetes-related treatment, along with "major depression."
Since he started working with 'Ohana Health Plan's outreach workers and getting treatment, "I don't walk around talking to myself anymore, " Ka 'alekahi said. "They hooked me up with resources. I'm not sabotaging myself all the time. I've just got to keep it real."
Ka 'alekahi said the people at 'Ohana Health Plan "did their job. They helped me realize there are choices."
Chipman also realizes the importance of consistency and routine.
But he's not even thinking of getting housed. Chipman just wants the voices in his head to stop.
Chipman lives on the street around
So to make his daily appointment in
Whipple first met Chipman three years ago, when he would cut his wrists in front of her.
He's survived several other suicide attempts, which included a self-inflicted gunshot to the head with a.38-caliber handgun that left him with seizures ; a jump out of a second-story window ; and a leap in front of a bus.
"He hasn't been going to the hospital as much and hasn't cut himself for three months, " Whipple said. "That's huge. He used to cut himself every single day."
As Chipman spoke to the
"At Queen's I get frequent-flyer miles, " Chipman said. "That's what the charge nurse told me."
Asked why he ever wanted to kill himself, Chipman said, "'Cuz they told me to."
Asked to explain, Chipman said he sees people that only he can see and hears voices that only he can hear.
"They say, 'Die and hurry up. Don't listen to nobody but us.'"
If he ignores the voices, Chipman said, "Then they get really mad."
But when he follows his routine and stays on his medications, Chipman said the voices "calm down a little bit."
He could not remember many details of his life, such as his age, how long he's been homeless or where he's from.
But Chipman said he does understand the link between treating his mental illness and the help he gets from 'Ohana Health Plan.
"I don't want to mess up, " he said.
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