Health Focus Area: Mental Health

What is Mental Health?

Mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community “ (WHO, 2001). “Mental health is the foundation for well-being and effective functioning for an individual and community. It is more than the absence of mental illness; it is a resource vital to individuals, families and societies (BC Ministry of Health, 2007)”

 

Why is Mental Health included in Healthiest Polk County 2015? 

The 2007 Wisconsin Youth Behavior Risk Survey (YRBS) and the aggregate score of Polk County schools 2008 YRBS data revealed that in comparison to Wisconsin statewide percentatges, Polk's high school students:

  • are 22% more likely to feel so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row that they stopped doing some usual activities during the past 12 months
  • are 30% more likely to have made a plan about how they would attempt suicide during the past 12 months
  • are 34% more likely to have long-term emotional or mental health problems like depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, eating disorders, or cutting
  • are 23% more likely to never or rarely feel safe from physical harm when they are at school
  • The Polk County rate of suicide tripled from the 2006 rate and was double the statewide and regional rates.

 

What is our overall Mental Health Goal?

By December 2015, reduce disparities in suicide and mental health disorders for disproportionately affected populations, including those of differing races, ethnicities, sexual identities and orientations, gender identities, educational or economic status

 

How will we know we are making progress?

  • Indicator 1:  The Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey data for Polk County will show a 5% improvement from 2008 data in each mental health indicator (Source: Wisconsin  YRBS)
  • Indicator 2: The Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Strategy will be fully implemented in Polk County (Source: Polk County Mental Health Task  Force)
  • Indicator 3: the Polk County mortality rate from suicide will decrease from 22.6/100,000 to 18/100,000 (Source: Wisconsin Deaths 2009, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin DHS 

Who are the key stakeholders? 

  • Mental Health Taskforce of Polk County
  • Polk County Schools
  • Polk County Faith Community
  • Polk County Healthcare Providers
  • Polk County Media
  • Polk County Businesses
  • Polk County Service Organizations 

Individuals & Families

  • Become informed about mental health issues and their association with physical health problems
  • Prevent bullying behaviors through education and conflict resolution skill training
  • Access screening, early intervention for mental health disorders
  • Advocate for mental health parity with policy makers

 

Organizations & Institutions

  • Increase employers education and awareness of mental health issues
  • Maintain accurate and up to date county wide directory of local mental health resources
  • Increase treatment rates for those with both mental health and addictive disorders
  • Increase the proportion of juvenile justice systems that screen new admissions for mental health disorder
  • Implement zero tolerance policies for bullying
  • Assure health insurance benefits include mental health diagnosis and treatment provisions
  • Join and participate in the activities of the Mental Health Task Force of Polk County
  • Expand membership of the Mental Health Task Force of Polk County. Current members include representation from the following organizations:  Community Referral Agency, United Way, St. Croix Regional Medical Center, Amery Regional Medical Center, Osceola Medical Center, Polk County Schools, CESA 11 - Head Start, Law Enforcement, Media, Polk County Health Department, Polk County Human Services - Juneville Justice, and Local Mental Health Providers.
  • Develop a resource toolkit for groups to target stigma reduction (Back-of-the-Door-Campaign)
  • Maintain a  website for the 
    Mental Health Taskforce of Polk County  with links to local resources as well as links to other websites that offer education on mental health disorders
  • Increase cooperation and coordination between primary care and mental health care systems
  • Support legislation that brings about equity and parity for mental health services.
  • Implement Wisconsin’s Suicide Prevention Strategy