Craig Mental Health News

February 2010 

 

On February 4th, REPS (Reaching Everyone Preventing Suicide) hosted a community forum addressing the subject of suicide in our community.  Forty -five people attended the forum, which was held at The Memorial Hospital.  Presenters included Peggy Sammons, LPC, and Barb Seed, both from Craig Mental Health, and Anthony Noble, LCSW, a private provider in our community.  Craig Mental Health and REPS were very pleased with the turnout and the fact that 27 people also signed up for ASIST training, which is being scheduled for later this spring. We believe this was a major step in bringing this ever-present issue to the forefront in the Craig community and pulling people together to find solutions. Please see our Suicide Prevention page for more information about REPS and how to get involved.

 

March 2010

 

Craig Mental Health is extremely proud to announce its designation as the 2009 Moffat County United Way Agency of the Year.  The award was presented during the annual United Way awards luncheon on March 9th.  We appreciate this honor and the acknowledgement of the improvements we have made as an agency during the past year. It is fulfilling to know that we are making a difference in our community.  Thank-you Moffat County and United Way!

 

 

May 2010

 

Colorado West Regional Mental Health/Craig Mental Health acknowledges May as Mental Health Month, which has been officially recognized since 1949.  CWRMH uses Mental Health Month to promote the message that treating the body without treating the mind is not treating the complete person.

 

"Access to medically necessary medication and treatment helps prevent individuals from ending up in emergency rooms and corrections factilities and from becoming homeless and , most importantly, prevents suicide, and it costs 6.5 times more to incarcerate an individual experiencing mental health issues than to treat them in the community," says Sharon Raggio, CEO of Colorado West.  "An important message of May is Mental Health Month is that people who have mental illnesses can recover and lead full, productive lives.  In fact, good mental health is essential to the overall health and emotional wellbeing of Colorado's children, youth, adults and families.

 

Free mental health awareness webcasts will be offered from 3 to 4p.m. in May.  The schedule is: 

 

     *May 5--Understanding depression

     *May 12--Understanding anxiety disorders

     *May 19--Understanding psychosis

     *May 26--Understanding substance abuse disorders

These webcasts are offered by the national advocacy and public education organization, the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.  Participants need to pre-register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/176709011.