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By Mike Barnhardt

Enterprise Record

Most of the people who go to A Storehouse for Jesus for medical care have jobs.

But they don’t have health insurance.

“It’s the working poor in most cases,” said Judy Rush, a mental health nurse.

Dr. Roger McCauley, director of psychiatry at Storehouse, said about half of the working population has no health insurance.

Because of this and other reasons, mental health issues are often present in these people. But getting them the care they need can be a challenge.

For one thing, if an individual is on Medicare, they don’t quality for Storehouse medical services. Rush and McCauley are trying to get that changed because of the lack of local options for mental health patients, especially those who rely on Medicaid.

“Our goal is to let the community know we provide mental health care,” McCauley said. “We’re just about the only game in town.”

Most patients at the Storehouse suffer from anxiety and depression, more or less life stresses.

“We see people who are survivors of childhood abuse and addictions, past and present,” he said. “Things we would normally recommend are not an option.”

Some lack transportation. Some don’t have enough money to pay for the gas to get to sessions. Some just don’t keep appointments, for whatever reason. Some suffer from a lack of quality nutrition, which is essential to good mental health, McCauley said.

“We see a lot of families,” Rush said. “It’s the only life they know and we try to help break that.”

“We help them survive,” the doctor said, “to look for new ideas to help them. Most have no or few friends or hobbies. They’re very isolated in their stress.”

Among other things, they try to engage their patients in the community more, things like joining the YMCA. If nothing else, they encourage patients to walk more. They work with churches and other agencies to find people the help they need.

“We serve everybody of all faiths, even though we’re a Christian organization,” McCauley said. “Patients and clients are the only reason we’re here.”

A Storehouse for Jesus, including the medical clinic, is operated by volunteers only.