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By Penny Fletcher
penny@observernews.net
SOUTH COUNTY -- He’s based in Sun City Center but his work doesn’t stop there. In fact, elder residents from anywhere in South County are welcome to take advantage of the services he provides.
Dr. Ken Barringer, a Methodist minister for 25 years, says he finally decided to concentrate on the mental health field because he felt a strong calling to help in that particular area. So he went back to school and obtained a doctorate in clinical psychology and taught on a college level for awhile.
But after a time, he said he wanted to become even closer to the people who needed help.
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| Dr. Ken Barringer left his 25-year career as a Methodist minister and obtained a doctorate in psychology more than 20 years ago when he first felt the need to help others in the specific area of mental health. Now he heads up the Coalition for Mental Health & Aging, serving residents all over South County with support groups, referral services and just talking things out.
Penny Fletcher |
“I could see the needs were so great, and for the most part, unmet,” he told me last week during a two-hour interview at SunTrust Bank in Sun City Center Plaza where his Coalition for Mental Health & Aging often meets. “Many seniors of my generation still think there’s a stigma attached to anything to do with emotional -- or mental -- illness or needs, so it is sometimes a very silent thing and they won’t ask for help.”
Yet feelings of depression and anxiety (and other unhealthy states) are very common in elders, especially if they lose someone close to them, feel alienated from family up North, or have declining health, he said.
The World War II Navy veteran, now 85, has lived in Sun City Center with his wife Joan since 1996. With six children and six grandchildren between them, the couple has been together 39 years.
Since coming to Sun City Center, Dr. Barringer has jumped into volunteerism with both feet.
Grabbing the help of whatever volunteers he could muster, and joining forces with Doris Ragland of Samaritan Services in Sun City Center, he birthed the seniors’ mental health coalition which is now affiliated with the Florida Coalition for Mental Health & Aging.
But he writes, speaks, counsels, facilitates support groups and just plain talks to everybody and anybody he can about health and wellness.
“Mental and physical activities are key to mental health as well as physical health,” he said. “Living a healthy lifestyle, finding hobbies and learning new things can put off the aging processes in the mind and body as well as postpone some of the effects of diseases like Alzheimer’s.”
But once someone has become depressed, anxious or otherwise in need of help, it is very important they get it.
“We have three support groups in Sun City Center and one in Apollo Beach,” he said. “We have groups for COPD (a respiratory disease) one for caregivers, and in December we’ll be starting one for coping with grief. And we have a whole variety of other services.”
He went on to zero in on seven specific areas the coalition can help area residents.
Support Groups. Educational seminars four times a year. Oct. 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the Sun City Center Methodist Church the coalition will have a seminar on “Improving Our Memory & Maintaining Brain Health.” Coralease Ruff (author of a book on coping with her daughter’s grief) will speak on grief issues and coping strategies, he said. They are also planning four seminars for 2010 to deal with issues seniors face on a daily basis, including how to keep a connection with children and grandchildren up North.
Referral Services. These are especially helpful if someone is not certain what type of help he or she needs.
Screening Services. The coalition is connected with The Woman’s Center in Tampa; it can also arrange for a trained professional to do free depression screenings in people’s homes; and it works with Samaritan Services to refer for dementia screenings.
It has a speaker service that provides professional people to speak at organizations about the coalition and how seniors can maintain mental health as they age.
It has a newsletter and also a web site, www.coalitionmha.com.
It is in the process of working with MHC Inc., (Mental Health Care, based on 22nd Street) in Tampa to get a full-service satellite office in South County with an on-site medicating psychiatrist and possibly a psychologist as well. Eldercare attorney Karen Prevatt is heading up the drive to assess the need and develop plans for this, he said. Ms. Prevatt recently moved to Sun City Center and is on the board of directors at MHC, he said.
“The coalition tries to make two emphases,” he continued. “One is to offer concrete ideas and motivation to live a wellness (healthy) lifestyle in your older years and the other is to provide help and services to those who are suffering from anxiety or stress.”
There is a whole hidden world few people see, he explained. “Depressed, lonely seniors sitting in their homes. Spouses can become abusive when they are anxious or depressed. You don’t normally think of abuse happening with seniors but the (abuse) shelter in Ruskin says it’s not uncommon.”
At any given time, mental health organizations say approximately 20 percent of the U.S. senior population has some kind of mental disorder.
In his work with local elders, Dr. Barringer says he has found several common areas of concern that come up over and over again. “Many people just don’t adjust well to the move from up North. They’ve given up their lifetime support systems -- maybe families -- and then don’t become involved in the many things they can choose to do here.” He cited crafts, sports, clubs and hobbies and then added that volunteerism is often the best choice.
“Volunteerism gives you a real sense of fulfillment,” he said. “It is one of the generators of good health because it gives both passion and purpose. It keeps you from becoming focused only on yourself.”
Besides his extensive work with the coalition and other mental health projects, Dr. Barringer teaches a course at Community Church College in Sun City Center; mentors several younger men on topics from business to faith; teaches “Responsible Life Choices” at the woman’s correctional institution in Balm; and works with men who have been recently released from prison who stay at the Russo Center in Bradenton.
“I also play a lot of pickle ball,” he said, smiling. “It’s a challenging and demanding sport and it helps me keep my body moving and my weight down.”
To reach Dr. Barringer to inquire about services, South County residents may call (813) 633-8490 or visit the coalition office at 916 Pebble Beach Blvd., in Sun City Center. Sun City Center residents also have the option of contacting Doris Ragland at Samaritan Services at (813) 634-9283.
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