By BECKY GILLETTE

The senior population is a great example of understanding the integrated approach to both medical and behavioral health. Seniors will often have both physical and mental health issues occurring simultaneously. Stress, anxiety and depression can influence heart disease and other medical conditions…. David Morris, CEO, Lakeside Behavioral Health System

When David Morris took over as CEO of Lakeside Behavioral Health System in December 2024, he was stepping into the shoes of Joy Golden, who had been the well-regarded Lakeside CEO for 15 years.

“Lakeside is fortunate to have a long history of successful leadership,” Morris said. “Building on the successes of the previous CEO is a privilege.”

Morris, who has a master’s degree in social work, is a seasoned healthcare executive who brought 35 years of experience guiding mental health organizations from the top, serving in nine behavioral health systems across six states.

The 345-bed Lakeside Behavioral Health System, located on a 37-acre campus, is well known for helping people see a future beyond substance use and mental health disorders.

Morris states that one of the challenges for a hospital with a long history in the community is battling complacency and routine. He is driving changes that will define Lakeside’s future. “One of my first efforts was to make sure I had the right people in different management positions. I also am always looking for ways to improve the hospital. I like to get direct feedback from social workers, therapists, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists. Some people in the South don’t like giving you direct feedback. I like to hear what is not working or what can be improved upon. I want people to give feedback on what could be better.”

Morris’ management style is best described as directing through teaching and using every work event as an opportunity for employees to grow professionally and personally. “I encourage people to challenge themselves and challenge processes in order to be more impactful and purposeful in our work,” he said. “I like teaching others that change is not always negative or to be feared but, rather, an opportunity to break out of repetition and stagnation.”

The mental health field continues to be challenging. Morris said that, unfortunately, there are many gaps in service. Most patients now are only allowed seven days to be at a mental health hospital because of cutbacks from government and private payers.

In addition to serving the mental health needs of the community, Lakeside is gradually moving toward the treatment of the whole person through the integration of medical care along with mental health care. “This initiative is called Medical Behavioral Integration (MBI),” Morris said. “An increasing amount of research is showing that addressing both the medical and mental health aspects of the patient creates cost savings and better clinical outcomes.

“Forty years ago, we tended to think of different medical problems as being treated separately from everything else. Now we are learning we must treat the whole person medically and psychiatrically. Our medical director, Dr. Mahmoud Ali, is an Internal Medicine specialist. The government and commercial payers also want us to be addressing the whole person both medically and with behavioral health.”

Comorbidities can impact mental health care. Obviously, there are more medical complications in seniors who are at an age where more medical issues tend to surface.

“A lot of our referrals come from nursing homes,” Morris said. “The senior population is a great example of understanding the integrated approach to both medical and behavioral health. Seniors will often have both physical and mental health issues occurring simultaneously. Stress, anxiety and depression can influence heart disease and other medical conditions.

“We are spending a lot of time on training and education to address both the medical and psychiatric. Sometimes, it is a hard thing to balance. You can start a medication and then have to give another medicine for the side effects of that first medication. The challenge can be figuring out what is working. With elders, it gets more complicated from the medical side,” he said.

His biggest short-term goal at Lakeside is to apply all that he has learned in running behavioral health hospitals for 31 years. Long term, his intention is to leave Lakeside at a high level of performance for the next CEO.

Another major long-term focus is listening to the needs of the community and responding with the necessary changes at the highest level of clinical delivery.

“What it really means is we offer many levels of service from children to seniors and between those age groups,” he said. “We offer mental health care, addiction treatment and trauma treatment. Lakeside is a short-term hospital for acute stabilization for psychiatric needs. Patients stay an average of seven days. Some may need more, but that is what programs will pay for. Lakeside sees about 8,000 admissions a year.

“It is designed to address high-risk crisis events such as people who are suicidal or homicidal--potentially dangerous to themselves or other. Many patients can be treated on an outpatient basis.”

Morris grew up in both southern and northern Louisiana. His career started as a clinical social worker in the early 80’s, helping children, adolescents and families. As he continued to advance in leadership roles, he found that he could make more impact in guiding mental health organizations from the top.

His experience includes successful startup operations for two behavioral hospitals in the Colorado market. In addition, he led five hospital turn-around operations as CEO across six other states. He was previously with UHS as a Group CEO, providing multi-facility oversight of behavioral health hospitals in West Texas and the north Dallas area. Morris earned a BA in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University, a MSW from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from Colorado State University.

Morris believes self-improvement and family are the keys to a successful future. He and his wife have embraced the Memphis restaurant scene and enjoy watching football at all levels. He also recently started running as a new hobby, including participating in his first 5K race. His approach to both leadership and life reflects the same philosophy — that growth comes from dedication, balance, and the courage to take the next step.