Why is this an important health issue in Eau Claire County?
Mental health is essential to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships, and the ability to contribute to a community or society. Mental health is a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with challenges. Community members have identified the complexity of navigating the mental health system as one major barrier to receiving treatment.
Mental Health Action Team
The Mental Health Action Team works to increase strong, healthy social connections among people of all ages to promote mental wellness.
Goals and Objectives: 2021-2024
Currently, the Mental Health Action Team has set one goal and three objectives to reach it:
Goals and objectives are developed based on root cause analysis, current evidence, state and national plans, and community input, assets, and readiness. More information on this process can be found in Eau Claire County’s Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan.
Current Projects
The Mental Health Action Team is working on the following projects to improve social connection, increase awareness of mental health resources, and support well-being and resiliency.
- Promoting community activities and programs that increase connectedness and social support between individuals, family, and organizations.
- Exploring and recommending a community intervention intended to improve access to mental health services.
- Continuing community mental health trainings, including Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training for youth and adults; Mental Health First Aid, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Resiliency.
- Distributing mental health-related resources to priority populations.
- Conducting an annual mental health awareness month community activity.
Coming soon! Action plans with current goals, objectives, and ongoing work will be available here.
Local Resources
Our action teams strive to connect our community members with the resources that they need to maintain or improve their health. Visit our Local Resources page to get connected with our community’s resources.
Accomplishments
- Continued to add capacity and expand QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training in local school districts (Augusta, Altoona, Fall Creek, and Eau Claire).
- Partnered on messaging efforts related to mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Promoted social media challenges to encourage social connectedness, physical and mental well-being, while following COVID-19 safety guidelines.
- Collaborated on several initiatives to end stigma surrounding mental health.
For a full list of accomplishments over the course of 2021-2024 for chronic disease prevention and all of our community’s health priorities , please see the final pages of Eau Claire County’s Community Health Improvement Plan.
Do you want to help the Mental Health Action Team develop healthy communities? Click here to get involved.