Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas partners with New Directions to make sure our members and employees have access to the behavioral health resources they need. Those resources also extend to caregivers who may want guidance on caring for a loved one. In awareness of World Autism Month, New Directions highlights the resources they offer to caregivers of people with autism.
“I love someone with autism.” You see the stickers, T-shirts and community support. But what you may not always see are the challenges (mixed with the joys!) of caring for someone with autism. If you or someone you know is impacted by autism, remember this:
- You don’t have to do it alone. Family, friends, support groups and families in similar situations can all offer advice and a helping hand.
- Caregiver stress is real. And asking for help is okay. Anger, fear, depression, thoughts of guilt or shame, trouble sleeping and many other emotions are common.
- Take a timeout. Don’t neglect your personal needs and the things you enjoy. Set limits and reserve some time for yourself.
It’s okay to not have all the answers. Whether you’re a friend, relative or primary caregiver of someone with autism, reach out to New Directions for support. If your coverage includes autism-related services, the New Directions Autism Resource Program can help you with care managers, who are specially trained to assist you through the process of obtaining a diagnosis and authorizing treatment.
To learn more about how New Directions can help you, and how you can help others, visit the Autism Resource Center.
New Directions Behavioral Health
BCBSKS members are encouraged to check their contracts for specific details about benefit coverage before scheduling services. Log into BlueAccess® for more information.