Mental Health

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The secure, HIPAA-compliant system automates patient requests and streamlines the ability to triage healthcare requests.

September 24, 2024 (Falls Church, VA) —  ViaPath Technologies, a global technology leader that facilitates successful reintegration for incarcerated individuals, announced today the launch of a first-of-its-kind system to improve access to care and reduce costs within correctional facilities. The new Sick Call Triage Portal allows incarcerated individuals to use ViaPath’s industry leading Inspire® tablets to submit digital health request forms. Requests are automatically routed to medical personnel, streamlining their ability to triage requests and schedule appropriate medical consultations.

“We are pleased to introduce a tool that provides incarcerated patients better access to care and reduces costs for correctional facilities,” said Todd Stutts, ViaPath Senior Vice President of Business Development. “The digital forms on ViaPath’s Inspire tablets help ensure that requests are routed correctly, promptly, and securely, which supports faster processing, improved accountability, and most importantly, better health outcomes.”

“The forms on ViaPath’s Inspire tablets help ensure that requests are routed correctly, promptly and securely – which supports faster processing, improved accountability and better health outcomes.”

Todd Stutts

The Sick Call Triage Portal is secure and HIPAA-compliant, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of incarcerated individuals and providers. The system uses encryption, authentication, and audit trails to protect data and communications. Results from facilities with access to the Sick Call Triage Portal show that 93% of forms are now being processed electronically instead of by paper.

“The Sick Call Triage Portal on ViaPath tablets allows for increased access to healthcare request forms for the incarcerated population. Electronic forms are beneficial for healthcare staff as well – they reduce issues with illegible or incomplete data and allow for faster processing times,” said Reed Domer-Shank, Regional Vice President at correctional healthcare provider, YesCare. “We are excited to partner with ViaPath on this system to enhance access to healthcare services for our patients.”

About Viapath Technologies

ViaPath provides advanced communications, technology, and management solutions that facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, and enable successful reintegration for both current and formerly incarcerated individuals. ViaPath is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, and has an employee presence throughout North America. To learn more, please visit viapath.com.

About Yes Care

As the correctional healthcare pioneer and leader for 40 years, YesCare provides client partners with high quality healthcare and reentry services that will improve the health and safety of our patients, break the cycle of recidivism and better the communities where we live and work.

About ViaPath Technologies

ViaPath provides advanced communications, technology and management solutions that facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, and enable successful reintegration for both current and formerly incarcerated individuals. ViaPath is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America. To learn more, please visit viapath.com.

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National Recovery Month is observed every September to promote and support treatment and recovery practices for Americans suffering from substance use and mental illness. With a permanent theme of “Every Person. Every Family. Every Community,” Recovery Month serves as a reminder that recovery is for everyone, and that everyone can live healthy and rewarding lives.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 45 percent of incarcerated individuals in local jails and state prisons simultaneously struggle with substance use and psychological disorder. With addiction being so common in jails and prisons, addressing substance use disorders within correctional facilities helps guide individuals towards recovery and lowers the risk for relapse after release.

At ViaPath Technologies, we understand that support from loved ones is a key factor when showing up for those struggling with behavioral health and substance abuse. That’s why we are committed to providing incarcerated individuals with the support they need to help improve the individual’s wellbeing during and post release.

Through our Inspire Tablets, we are able to offer helpful tools and resources that help incarcerated individuals heal from recovery and adopt new habits. The resources that we have made available can be accessed by individuals inside of a correctional facility and post-release:

  • Breaking Free from Substance Abuse assists individuals in achieving and maintaining recovery from dependence on over 70 different substances.
  • Through an exclusive partnership with Dr. Christian Conte, a mental health specialist in the field of anger and emotional management, we are able to provide unique content and videos via our Inspire Tablets, that focus on helping incarcerated individuals address their mental and emotional health.
  • Peace Education Program from the Prem Rawat Foundation is a program with 10 thought-provoking themes helping participants discover a renewed sense of purpose, including how to use their own inner resources and lead more fulfilling lives.

For you and your formerly incarcerated loved ones, there are many national organizations and initiatives focused on recovery treatment paths and living a substance-free life: ·

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Provides information and resources on beginning a journey to recovery and finding local substance abuse and mental health treatment.
  • Addiction Resource – Provides relevant information related to addiction and addiction treatment, helping individuals and their families who struggle with addiction, substance use disorders, and mental health disorders by providing up-to-date, accurate, and evidence-based information, connecting individuals with treatment providers, and facilitating initial assessments.
  • Rehab Spot – Provides information on overcoming addiction and finding a treatment based on a person’s location, budget, and needs, specifically focusing on properly managing traumatic experiences, such as incarceration, as those affected often try to escape their pain through drug or alcohol use.
  • Sunshine Behavioral Health – Offers information on how people in recovery can still receive treatment and support during quarantine and shelter-in-place orders.
  • Volunteers of America – Provides hundreds of human service programs including housing and healthcare for America’s most vulnerable groups, including returning citizens and those recovering from addictions.

If you or someone you love are looking to start on the road to recovery, SAMSHA’s treatment locator can assist in matching your needs with the right treatment option. Recovery is a journey, but every journey begins with a single step.

About ViaPath Technologies

ViaPath provides advanced communications, technology and management solutions that facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, and enable successful reintegration for previously incarcerated individuals. ViaPath is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America. To learn more, please visit viapath.com. 

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National Suicide Prevention Month is recognized every September to help educate on a crisis that is plaguing people of all ages, genders, and nationalities. Across the United States, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death for all age groups, and the second leading cause of death among adults 25 to 44.  

Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone, and there is a dire need for an increased focus on suicide prevention — both inside and out of corrections facilities.   

To help make a positive impact, ViaPath Technologies partners with several organizations to provide individuals with resources designed to improve mental health and overall wellness during incarceration. Plus, ViaPath also offers multiple communication options, promoting connections to keep people together even when separated by incarceration.  

Through ViaPath’s Inspire Tablets, incarcerated individuals have access to applications that promote positive attitudes and increases morale by providing the opportunity to read books, watch movies, listen to music, play games, take educational courses, read religious texts, and meditate.   

  • A partnership with Dr. Christian Conte, a mental health specialist in the field of anger and emotional management, provides unique content and videos to the tablets, focusing on the mental and emotional health of incarcerated individuals.  
  • ViaPath Technologies’ partnership with CypherWorx helps to leverage over 30 mental health and suicide prevention programs, giving incarcerated individuals at nearly 2,000 correctional facilities across the country access to vital resources. 
  • Breaking Free from Substance Abuse assists individuals in achieving and maintaining recovery from dependence on over 70 different substances.  
  • The Peace Education Program from the Prem Rawat Foundation, offered on our ViaPath Inspire Tablets helps improve mental health and well-being by renewing a sense of purpose in participants.  

For returning citizens or family and friends that are suffering, there are many resources and organizations ready to help.  

  • The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 for those that need assistance for themselves or a friend or loved one.  
  • The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers resources for suicide prevention, including resources focused on diverse communities.  
  • Give an Hour is a national network of professionals who volunteer their time to provide free and confidential mental health care to specific populations, increasing the likelihood that those in need receive the support and care they deserve.  
  • The nation’s leading community-based nonprofit focused on suicide prevention, Mental Health America, is dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all Americans.  

 If you or someone you know is in an emergency, dial 988, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), or or dial 911 immediately.  

About ViaPath Technologies

ViaPath provides advanced communications, technology and management solutions that facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, and enable successful reintegration for previously incarcerated individuals. ViaPath is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America. To learn more, please visit viapath.com. 

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May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month for over 70 years and is a time to raise awareness about mental and behavioral health issues. There are resources and tools available to you and your incarcerated loved ones all year round; the support doesn’t need to stop at the end of the month. 

In 2022, the National Alliance on Mental Illness reported that 2 in 5 people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness (37% in state and federal prisons and 44% held in local jails). Nearly 66% of women in prison reported having a history of mental illness, almost twice the percentage of men in prison. However, less than a quarter of these individuals receive treatment during incarceration. As a loved one of an incarcerated individual, it’s important to talk about the challenges, stigmas, and needed solutions around mental illness.  

ViaPath Technologies offers several resources to help address the emotional and mental health of your incarcerated loved ones. These resources can also support successful reintegration when it is time for their release.  

  • Dr. Christian Conte – ViaPath partners with one of the country’s most accomplished mental health experts in the field of anger and emotional management to provide exclusive content for incarcerated individuals and correctional institutions. 
  • Breaking Free Group – since 2020, ViaPath offers the “Breaking Free from Substance Abuse” digital program on tablets to assist in achieving and maintaining recovery from dependence on over 70 different substances. 
  • Free Mental Health Resources – available through ViaPath tablets, incarcerated individuals living with mental health concerns can access a variety of free resources that include cognitive behavioral health therapy, parenting while incarcerated, mindfulness-based substance abuse treatment, anger management, and more. 

For the family and friends on the outside, there are many national organizations focused on getting help for individuals suffering from mental illness, ensuring their safety and well-being:  

  • NAMI Stepping Up Initiative – Brings together mental health organizations, substance abuse organizations, and law enforcement associations to divert people with mental illness from incarceration into treatment.  
  • Mental Health Channel – A free online network of inspiring documentary videos on various mental health topics. 
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Provides a location-based list of substance abuse and mental health treatment.  
  • Give an Hour – Offers free and confidential mental health care to all populations through a network of professional volunteers.  

Additionally, ViaPath recognizes the importance of maintaining connections when addressing mental health and continues to offer our free weekly communications program allowing incarcerated individuals consistent contact with their loved ones to receive support and aid in maintaining a positive outlook. 

“Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you, doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.” – Lisa Olivera 

Prioritizing mental health is essential to overall wellbeing. ViaPath Technologies encourages everyone to reach out to your loved ones to give and/or receive support.  

The information provided in this post is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions or diseases. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have if you are experiencing depression or any other medical condition. ViaPath Technologies does not control or take responsibility for the content or information on any external website not managed by ViaPath.

About ViaPath Technologies

ViaPath provides advanced communications and management solutions that facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, and enable successful reintegration for 1.6 million incarcerated individuals. ViaPath is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America. To learn more, please visit www.viapath.com.

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It is not enough to just talk about ViaPath Technologies’ commitment to transforming the incarceration experience into a rehabilitative journey — we must cultivate partnerships and offer resources that actually do so. With a focus on Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize that incarcerated individuals are often left behind.

For this reason, we have continued to invest in our exclusive partnership with Dr. Christian Conte, a mental health specialist in the field of anger and emotional management, to provide unique content on ViaPath Technologies tablets.  With 18 years of experience working with the justice-impacted, Dr. Conte empowers individuals to understand and manage their emotions in a productive non-violent manner to facilitate successful reintegration.

This is about life and how every one of us, incarcerated or not, gets better from this moment forward.

As the creator of “Yield Theory,” Dr. Conte advocates for meeting people where they are without judgment. Connecting with others leads to understanding—understanding the person and the choices they have made but also understanding ourselves. Yield Theory has seven main components: Acceptance, Authenticity, Compassion, Conscious Education, Creativity, Mindfulness, and Non-Attachment. As of 2021, all new individuals incarcerated in Pennsylvania must go through Yield Theory training.

“The path to rehabilitation comes with challenges, but the reward is well worth the effort. By partnering with Dr. Conte, we can provide incarcerated individuals access to tools and resources to improve their mental and spiritual wellbeing,” said Deb Alderson, ViaPath Technologies’ President and CEO.

“At ViaPath Technologies, we believe a healthy life starts with a healthy mind,” Alderson added. “Our tablets and content allow correctional facilities to transform into more rehabilitative environments, placing incarcerated individuals on the best possible path forward to reintegration upon their release.”

As part of this partnership, Dr. Conte’s programs are available for free on ViaPath’s tablets with new content added regularly. Currently, topics cover anger management, domestic violence, parenting from behind bars, co-parenting, mindfulness, healthy relationships, and boundary setting. Any individual with access to a ViaPath tablet can access Dr. Conte’s content to help turn their lives from one of incarceration to one of successful reintegration and personal fulfillment.

“This is about life and how every one of us, incarcerated or not, gets better from this moment forward,” concluded Dr. Conte. “That is the reason why I am so grateful and ecstatic about the partnership with ViaPath—we can get these ideas out to so many more institutions, so the programs and videos I have created can lead to making prison a place of personal growth, setting individuals up for a better life and for success. That is a huge part of why I do what I do and why I partnered with ViaPath Technologies.” 

Next time you connect with your incarcerated friend / loved one, be sure to ask them about Dr. Conte’s programs. In addition, individuals outside of the correctional environment can also access several of his videos, programs, discussions, and more at the links below:   

 

The information provided in this post is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions or diseases. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have if you are experiencing depression or any other medical condition. ViaPath Technologies does not control or take responsibility for the content or information on any external website not managed by ViaPath.
About ViaPath Technologies

ViaPath provides advanced communications and management solutions that facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, and enable successful reintegration for 1.6 million incarcerated individuals. ViaPath is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America. To learn more, please visit www.viapath.com.