LOUISVILLE, Ky. — While spending time with family is something many look forward to this time of year, for those that struggle with mental health, the holiday season can become more of a burden. Resources like the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline are already struggling to keep up with demand regardless of the holiday, so getting help can be a challenge.

What You Need To Know

  • The Wellspring Crisis Unit in Louisville is seeing an uptick in demand for Thanksgiving

  • The crisis unit provides a safe place for people experiencing an array of mental health symptoms and diagnoses

  • While they are full, the CSU director said it’s usually pretty easy to get into the crisis unit

  • According to a poll by the American Psychiatric Association, nearly a third of Americans in 2022 were expecting to be more stressed for the holiday season

Resources in Louisville are also feeling the uptick in demand for Thanksgiving. 

Ashley Epstein has worked at the Wellspring crisis unit for about a year and a half. She has been helping people when they need it the most.

“I enjoy the shorter intensive services that the crisis stabilization units offer. We often see a quick turnaround of symptoms and a reduction of symptoms within the client stay,” said Ashely Epstein, CSU clinical director. 

The crisis unit provides a safe place for people experiencing an array of mental health symptoms and diagnoses.

“We offer medication management, group therapy, individual therapy, and 24 hours a day, seven days a week support,” said Epstein.

The holidays can cause more people to experience mental health crises. According to a poll by the American Psychiatric Association, nearly a third of Americans in 2022 were expecting to be more stressed for the holiday season. As for the Wellspring crisis unit in Louisville, they are very busy this Thanksgiving.

“We are completely full right now with a waiting list that extends a few days past Thanksgiving. We see a lot of increase in depression and anxiety and increased stressors due to family conflict around the holidays,” she said. 

The crisis unit has 10 beds and clients stay seven to 10 days.  

“We are a voluntary program so the clients that are here during the holidays we have discussed that with them beforehand and they have decided that it is in their best interest to be here over the holiday,” she said.

Just because they are full this week, it does not mean they won’t have any openings soon.

“While we are full at the moment, usually it’s pretty easy to get into the crisis stabilization unit and we try to remove all barriers for people trying to get in,” Epstein said.

They have a referral hotline that handles admissions. If they feel that someone is not a fit for the crisis unit, they will help brainstorm other options for them.

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