ʻĀINA WARRIORS: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM
The Behavioral Health team at the KKV annual retreat. L-R: Maria Bautista, Sharon Perez, Judy Ann Lacar, Etsuko Foster, Dr. Dana Monday (N.P.), Dr. Mya Moe Hla, Dr. Lisa Ho, Rosemary Dahuya, Sharonne Jacinto.
The Behavioral Health (BH) Department at KKV has long served the communities of Kalihi through a wide array of mental health and wellness services that include psychiatric evaluation, counseling and therapy, substance abuse treatment, case management, social services, home visits, and integrative pain management.
The BH team were challenged to meet growing needs in the past few years. L-R: Maria Bautista, Michelle Aseret, Kelly Reyes, Dr. Lisa Ho, Eri Rodrigues, Judy Ann Lacar and Rosemary Dayuha.
“One of the biggest needs in our community is healing and support for both physical and emotional pain. Connecting with providers whom people trust is important especially at a time of crisis," says Dr. Mya Moe Hla, Adult Psychiatrist and Director of the BH Department. Hla has been with KKV for the past thirty years, first starting as KKV's Perinatal Program Coordinator. She has a keen understanding of issues affecting women and families, having also worked as KKV's Director of Maternal Child Health before completing her PhD in Epidemiology and becoming Board-Certified in Psychiatry.
COVID-19 dramatically increased demand for mental health services among KKV’s patients. The BH team responded by launching a highly successful telehealth program. Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Lisa Ambrosino Ho, explains how, “We recognized that our patients felt more comfortable talking about their mental health struggles through virtual conversations than coming to the clinic for in-person sessions. This was safer for staff and patients because of COVID. But it had the unanticipated result of being more effective because telehealth seemed to lessen the stigma around mental health since patients could speak with us from home.”
The BH team gets festive. First two in the very front starting from L: (Judy Ann Lacar and Rosemary Dayuha). Next row starting from L: (Michelle Aseret, Kelly Reyes, Dr. Lisa Ho, Samantha Fung, Dr. Mya Moe Hla, Etsuko Foster and Sharon Peres). The last row in the back starting from L: (Maria Bautista, Dr. Dana Monday (NP) and Dr. Alexis Grieves (NP).
One of the ways KKV increases access to BH care is through the Integrative Behavioral Healthcare (IBH) model, where medical and BH providers work as a team to deliver patient-centered care. IBH acknowledges the connection between mind and body and recognizes the complex factors affecting a person's health. When a patient comes to KKV for care, he or she may be referred directly to BH for depression, anxiety, substance use, or other mental health issues. This process improves health outcomes and has financial benefits by reducing costs. Care Coordinator Maria Bautista reflects on the value of IBH, “It has really opened my perspective to see the different ways I can provide care,” she explains. “We provide a nonjudgmental and safe space in which our mental health can be seen as just as important as our physical health.”
A big mahalo to the BH team for all they do for KKV’s patients and for their creative approach in support of KKV’s many staff and our numerous avenues of care.
