by Nikki Eining
October included “World Mental Health Day” and “Mental Illness Awareness Week.” In this spirit, the Brookings City/County and School Board designated Mental Health Taskforce wants to keep the conversation around mental health going.
The purpose of the Brookings Mental Health Taskforce is to complete a comprehensive needs assessment, create a roadmap of services currently available to the mentally ill, and to propose improvements to the current services available to people with mental health issues in our community. The taskforce has recently completed the county-wide needs assessment survey. Over 700 individuals answered questions to the survey. The taskforce will utilize the remaining days of October and beginning of November to analyze these results. The taskforce will look at hosting the few last focus groups to get feedback on strengths and barriers before the end of November. To stay up to date on upcoming events, make sure to look at the event calendar on the City of Brookings website or the City of Brookings facebook page.
To explore all current mental health, addiction, psychiatry and support group resources, you can access the Brookings Mental Health Resource Guide here:
https://www.helplinecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/HLCRD-Brookings-Area-Mental-Health-Guide.pdf
You may also dial or text 211 and your zipcode to speak with a 211 representative about all local resources. The resource guide is updated annually and is financially supported by Brookings County Commission and Brookings City Council.
Mental Health is an issue that truly affects everyone, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, social status, or ideology. If you yourself have not directly been affected by mental health it is likely someone you care about has. Help the taskforce make appropriate recommendation to the Brookings County Commission, the Brookings City Council and the Brookings Public School Board by attending future focus groups to give us your input.
More information on the Mental Health Taskforce can be found here: http://www.cityofbrookings.org/index.aspx?NID=505
Nikki Eining CSW-PIP, QMHP
Mental Health Taskforce Co-Chair
Avera Behavioral Health Brookings