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Mental and behavioral health needs remain a challenge throughout the state of Minnesota, and the unique needs of rural Minnesotans require targeted attention.
To learn more about the needs of residents of Northern St. Louis County, Wilderness Health invited community members to share their stories and help shape the future of mental health care. The listening session was held on Friday, June 28 at the Ely Senior Center. This was the second event in a series being held across Northeastern Minnesota.
Attendees shared stories of the ongoing challenges of navigating mental and behavioral healthcare.
The group expressed the need for mental healthcare coordination across the lifespan, from children with developmental needs, to teens who are learning to navigate the healthcare system, and those who are aging and needing specialized cognitive services.
Other gaps in care included a lack of culturally relevant mental health professionals, as well as experienced mental health professionals.
The group identified that communities could benefit from increased access points to care, standard screening and response at all ages, and increased after-hours or telehealth services for both mental health and primary (family doctor) care.
According to Zom i Bloom, Telehealth Program Manager for Wilderness Health and program manager of the new project around mental and behavioral health care coordination, “We are honored to hear directly from community members. We want to understand their vision of easily navigating the system of mental and behavioral healthcare. We also know that primary care and family doctors make a big difference in ensuring overall well-being – but it’s not always easy to get out of work or arrange for childcare to go to the doctor.”
For Ely and surrounding area residents who missed the listening session, Wilderness is collecting feedback directly. Please email your thoughts to info@wildernesshealthmn. org or call Zomi Bloom at 218-8347323.
The event was supplemented by local Graphic Recorder Nelle Rhicard, who will compile feedback across the region into pictures that tell the story of community needs and hopes.
Through funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Rural Health Network Development Program, Wilderness Health and rural Northeastern Minnesota communities will identify successes, barriers, and possible solutions. For questions about the regional listening sessions please reach out to Zomi Bloom at 218-834-7323 or zomi.bloom@wildernesshealthmn. org.
Funding Acknowledgement – Care Navigation program activities and materials produced by WH are supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $296,000 with 10% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
