GEORGETOWN, De-Health advocates and locals met in Georgetown today to discuss what all can be done for those battling mental issues in Sussex County.
Among the communities discussed were senior citizens. Some say there is a growing need to be addressed involving some and their battle with mental illness and substance abuse.
Places like SUN Behavioral Health has a program that specifically targets the geriatric community facing these issues.
This is in addition to separate programs that help adolescents and other adults as well.
The Sussex County Advisory Committee on Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities spearheaded the meeting today held in Georgetown. Erin E. Willis of SUN Behavioral Health Delaware explained their facility is helping to provide people the assistance they need.
"Every day we're getting at least ten admissions if not more. We're slowly and steadily growing," Willis said.
"We've had people who've had suicidality who need to be detoxed because they're coping with their severe depression because they just got diagnosed with dementia and they don't know how to handle it."
For those who receive treatment, Willis says "they get to see our psychiatrists, they have a social worker, we do provide one on one individualized, if they're not comfortable in a group setting."
Scott Phillips, who serves on the Sussex County Advisory Committee on Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities said "just like all age ranges you know the geriatric or the seniors have mental health issues as well as substance abuse issues unfortunately."
He said the meeting was a good way to figure out how to address the growing need and what else can be done to serve seniors in Sussex County.
Phillips says he would like to see more done in the area for seniors who suffer from dementia and Alzheimers as well.
Sun Behavioral Health says they have thirty beds occupied right now and they look forward to addressing the needs of more people in coming months.