The pressure was rising, and with no insurance or support, options were quickly running out for Sandy, who was contemplating suicide. Lucky for her, Oakland University alumna Lori Valuet was there to help.

Sandy is one of the many people in the area who found help from the Macomb County Mental Health Department at a difficult time in her life.

“I was severely depressed, close to a nervous breakdown,” Sandy said. “I had been in an abusive relationship and I needed therapy.”

With poverty and depression running rampant in society today, people seeking mental health assistance is dramatically rising. Valuet is trying to help these people at the Macomb County Mental Health Department and give back to the population.

“I’m one of those people who believe that serving the community is a thing of value,” Valuet said.

Valuet graduated from OU in 1987, getting her bachelor’s degree in human resource development. She continued her education and would later receive her master’s in public administration in 1994, again from OU.

Immediately after graduation, she went to work at the mental health center and has been there ever since. In her current role of community relations assistant, Valuet has plenty of duties that include making sure the public knows what programs are available and how to use them.

“The work that I do is within the administration office, so it is for the broad benefit of our entire system,” Valuet said. “For example, the written materials, the consumer guidebooks that describes all of our services and how to get them. That’s what I produce.”

However, Valuet does not just use guidebooks or pamphlets. She is currently working with website technicians to change the website to make it more user-friendly.

Even though she is not a clinician and does not provide medical services, Valuet is an important part of the staff, as she serves as a liaison between the program and the public.

“My function is really to help with the interaction between the community and the organization,” Valuet said.

There has been a noticeable upward trend in the past few years in all aspects of mental health services, even with children. For people like Sandy, these workers helped to save not just her sanity, but also her life.

“I thought about hurting myself so I voluntarily committed myself to the psych ward at South Macomb Hospital through the department,” she said. “I got the help that I needed and the workers were great. They were fun and there was always things organized.”

The 2009 Macomb County Annual Mental Health Report showed that 7,280 adults with mental illness came to get help for their problems as well as almost 1,700 children with some kind of serious emotional disturbance. An estimated 18,000 people in Macomb County were also involved in some kind of prevention services, ranging from substance abuse to clinical treatments for such things as depression and bipolar disorder.

Without this assistance, people like Sandy would be unable to fix their problems.

“If I wouldn’t have that therapy, I don’t know what would have happened,” Sandy said. “The Macomb County Mental Health Department really helped me.”

As Michigan has lost among the most jobs in the nation the past 10 years, the trend for public assistance should continue, as more people lose their insurance benefits.

“First of all, as the economy worsens, more people are eligible for Medicaid,” Valuet said. “As more people are eligible for Medicaid, they’re going to be coming to us for their mental health services.”

Valuet does not believe this trend will stop soon either. Even in these drastic times, she takes great pride in helping the community find the resources and services they need to maintain their overall health and better their lives.

“I believe anyone who uses these services has a right to all of the information they need to use our services effectively,” Valuet said. “They have the right to know all of the things we have to offer. Ultimately, the goal is for them to participate in their own recovery, and that’s what really this is all about.”

Valuet said she has no regrets with the career path she chose, but disapproves of those who harbor negative attitudes toward civic workers.

“The vast majority of us who work for the community are neighbors and friends, we have kids that we are trying to send to college too,” Valuet said. “I really feel that public servants have been vilified.”

Valuet believes cutting governmental spending on these mental health programs would have other negative effects.

“It’s very easy to say we need to slash-and-burn our government, but that’s us and ultimately, that’s also you,” Valuet said. “It has a direct effect on what kinds of services are available, whether there are community health services available. These things happen because of all of us who have made the choice to serve our communities, rather than go out and take these jobs that make big money.”

Editor’s note: Sandy’s name was changed to protect the confidentiality of the client, per mental health regulations.