Kicking off Mental Health Month, the Healthy Living Alliance of the Ozarks (HLA) has launched Mental Health 417, an online resource dedicated to improving mental health in the Ozarks. Available at MentalHealth417.org, the website is a comprehensive and interactive resource hub for all of Greene County.
Mental Health 417 is a one-stop resource that includes:
- Overviews of common mental health disorders.
- Interactive self-assessments to help you better understand your own mental health needs.
- A self-care toolbox with local ideas for managing stress and improving your mental wellbeing.
- Tips for starting conversations about mental health with friends, family, healthcare providers, etc.
- And a treatment finder to help you get connected to professional mental health care.
This tool was created in response to the mental health crisis that Springfield and Greene County are experiencing. According to the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, people in the Springfield Community (Greene, Christian, and Webster counties) experience poor mental health at a higher rate than people in the rest of Missouri and the United States. More than 24% of people in the Springfield Community experience depression, compared to 21% in Missouri and 18% in the U.S. Additionally, the rate of deaths from suicide is 20% higher than the Missouri average and 60% higher than the U.S. average.
The hope is that no matter what stage of mental wellness a person is at, whether they are experiencing unusually high amounts of stress or a mental health crisis, the hub can connect them with the resources or services they need. The hub also aims to normalize prioritizing mental health and reduce the stigma around seeking care. The goal of this initiative is to provide steps that people can take to halt the progression of the poor mental health before they reach crisis.
The HLA is a coalition of organizations working to develop and sustain a healthy community where everyone can thrive. HLA members who collaborated on the Mental Health 417 initiative include:
- Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
- Community Partnership of the Ozarks.
- Springfield-Greene County Health.
- Burrell Behavioral Health.
- CoxHealth.
- Mercy.
- Jordan Valley Community Health Center.
- NAMI of Southwest Missouri.
- KY3.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.
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Media may contact the Health Department PIO Team by call or text at 417-380-2556 or email at [email protected].
Springfield-Greene County Health Department
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