Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and while we’ve talked a lot in the last few weeks about youth mental health, we hope today to shine a light on the importance of mental health for all ages.

During the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Suzi Nerison, director of the Freeborn County Department of Human Services, delivered a presentation about Mental Health Awareness Month to the commissioners as she was surrounded by the leaders of the other departments in the county. She asked the board to approve a resolution as part of a collaboration among multiple departments within the county, noting that mental health awareness in the community may be more important than ever before.

She cited statistics tied to mental health for Freeborn County’s Mental Health Center, noting it served 750 individuals for therapy and 672 individuals for psychiatry appointments, and she said that both children and adult caseloads are averaging at maximum capacity per state statute.

The Albert Lea Police Department and Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office have seen a 500% increase in calls to law enforcement tied to mental health in the last five years.

And Freeborn County Public Health Director Sue Yost said mental health has been identified as the top concern for the last 14 years in the community needs assessment.

Nerison said suicide rates in some industries, such as law enforcement, veterans, agriculture, construction, buildings/ground maintenance and health care/social work are exponentially higher than the national average because of things like stigma surrounding seeking help, accessibility and trauma experiences.

She reminded residents of the many mental health resources in the community, though she acknowledged there are probably never enough resources:

• Private practice mental health providers

• Mental health services through health care organizations

• Community Mental Health Center

• Case management

• Family therapy and in-home family counseling

• Programs within schools

• Horizon Homes with mobile crisis services and a crisis center

• NAMI of Freeborn County

• Next Step Clubhouse

This coming week, there are a few events focused on mental health including 5K walks at 5:10 p.m. on Monday and Thursday, organized by Freeborn County public safety telecommunicators. The walks will go from the water tower downtown to Pioneer Park and back.

On Wednesday, there will also be a free picnic in Central Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. hosted by the Next Step Clubhouse, in which the community is invited to attend.

Mental health is something that needs to be discussed throughout many areas in the community, and we appreciate the spotlight the county is placing on this issue. We hope others will pick up the ball and discuss it in their own spheres as well.

It will impact many.