County health educator outlines expanded mental‑health promotion and prevention efforts

A county health educator gave commissioners an in‑depth update on promotion and prevention work tied to mental‑health month, detailing outreach tools, coalition projects and partner programs.

The presentation highlighted Credible Mind, a vetted online resource hub paid for by the county and launched for local residents in May 2024; staff reported user and session metrics, plans to expand outreach tools (social media, theater ads, bookmarks in libraries, digital screen messaging in county buildings and schools), and an upcoming youth mental‑health ambassadors program to train 15–20 youth and several adult advocates in mental‑health first aid.

Staff described the coalition's work with partners such as Lake Region Health (implementing a Zero Suicide framework under a Minnesota Department of Health grant), Lakes Country Service Cooperative (school task force and youth initiatives), and community training offerings including QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means), and Thrive resiliency programming. The presentation noted local initiatives like lunch‑table interactive activities in New York Mills and Parker's Prairie schools and library/bookmark outreach to support teens.

Commissioners asked whether the county pays for Credible Mind (staff confirmed the county pays an annual fee) and how the county distributes newsletters and materials (email newsletter signups, social media and partner distribution). Staff also pointed to crisis and warm lines (988 and locally relevant helplines) and said that some trainings and additional outreach materials are expected to be available in the fall.

The briefing was presented as part of routine health and wellness reporting; board members praised the outreach and requested follow‑up details, including training timelines and any measures of program effectiveness.