New mental health service available at Blessing Health Mount Sterling clinic

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Destiny Craven, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner for Blessing Health System, joined the Blessing Health Mount Sterling clinic team in March, offering on-site behavioral care for the first time since the clinic opened in 2021. She will provide evidence-based treatment for depression, anxiety, trauma and other mental health diagnoses.

“One of my personal and career goals is to bring mental health services to rural communities,” Craven said in a press release. “Often people have to drive to access this vital healthcare service. It’s hard to ask for help. Having to drive long distances to get help adds to the disadvantage people in rural communities’ face. With me at the clinic, people don’t have to travel far and don’t have to take as much time off of work.”

Craven will see patients 18 years and older Mondays through Wednesdays. To make an appointment, call Blessing Outpatient Behavioral Health Services at 800-222-9913 and request an appointment with Destiny Craven at the Blessing Health Mount Sterling clinic.

“I encourage anyone to make an appointment who has had mental health struggles throughout their lifetime or has had a recent life change that is adding a lot of stress to their life with which they are not able to cope,” Craven said. “Maybe they have tried some other options to cope, including therapy, but are still struggling on a daily basis.

“Reach out. Even if you are not certain about the help you may need, I will help you bring positivity back to your life and inspire you to move forward.”

Medication management will be the primary focus and service that Craven will provide.

“I will have a medical point of view,” she said. “I will also be mindful of how someone’s lifestyle choices, food, supplements and physical activity may be impacting their mental health.”

Craven will visit local nursing homes to conduct appointments on Thursdays. She will conduct virtual appointments with patients online on Fridays.

A nurse since 2018, Craven worked at Blessing and Illini hospitals before earning her master’s degree and passing the national examination to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

“This is an exciting asset for the communities we serve,” said Dawn Koch with the Blessing Health Mt. Sterling clinic. Koch has been with the clinic since it opened.

“I am proud that we are providing behavioral health services to our patients. It is not just about providing access to healthcare for rural communities, but more important, providing the type of healthcare services that are needed the most. I feel like we are doing just that for our communities with the addition of Destiny to our team.”

Before joining the clinic, Koch worked at Illini Community Hospital and hired Craven, who was in nursing school at the time, as a certified nursing assistant.

“Now we will be working as partners and collaborating together to provide the best care to our communities,’ Koch concluded. “Destiny was always dependable, eager to learn and a very compassionate nurse. I am very excited and eager to have her at Blessing Mount Sterling clinic and to be working side-by-side with her again.”