by RACHELLE H. SCHULTZ, Ed.D., Winona Health president/CEO
The increasing need for mental health care is no secret.
Together, a group of community partners formed the Mental Health Collaborative with the goal of helping people in our community access the mental health resources they need.
With mental health being identified as one of the top three priority areas in our most recent, and prior, Community Health Needs Assessment, we’ve been working to develop additional resources and increase access to mental health services.
A review of city/county mental health data indicated:
• Over 40% rise in mental health-related calls to Winona City Police Department from 2019-2022.
• 24% increase in mental health-related visits to our Winona Health Emergency Department from 2021-2022.
• Steady percentage of repeat mental health-related visits to our Emergency Department.
• Drug-related Emergency Department visits remain stable, but alcohol-related Emergency Department visits are rising.
• Increasing number of individuals presenting with anxiety and/or depression in outpatient settings.
The Mental Health Collaborative was formed to improve:
• Understanding of the services provided in our community.
• Collaborating as much as possible to address found needs.
• Transparently sharing data to assess community needs.
Through that work, the collaborative identified gaps related to mental health, including:
• Clinical needs: There is a shortage of talk therapy providers, substance use treatment providers, and programs, along with insufficient resources for early intervention and limited accessibility of crisis intervention.
• Care coordination: It’s not easy to find and access mental health resources, and there is a lack of knowledge/accessibility related to eligibility standards.
• Social determinants of health: There is a lack of economic stability, and other factors ranging from things like safety at home, neighborhood, and environment to housing, transportation, and food insecurity.
To begin to close these gaps, the Mental Health Collaborative reviewed feedback from a variety of surveys and focus groups, including those held by the county, client groups, and organization’s patient feedback.
This input demonstrated a clear need for assistance in connecting people with the right resources and supporting them in the process. This could include assistance connecting to the right resources, completing applications, submitting necessary information, and more. This led to the development of the navigator role. We are grateful for the support of the county and city in providing financial support for this role along with others in the collaborative.
The navigator will be able to assist community members in accessing the various resources they are eligible for in our community to best address their immediate needs. Further, we will continue to collect data on how this role is working to achieve the outcomes needed and report back to the county and city.
There are no quick fixes, but this is a good step. A shortage of mental health resources is a challenge for communities across our state and country. Addressing the mental health needs in our community will be an ongoing effort.
Information and idea sharing, like the work being done through the Mental Health Collaborative, can lead to innovative solutions. I’m also pleased to have been invited to present as a panelist at this year’s inaugural AscendRural Summit. The Summit focused on critical issues around mental health with an emphasis on rural communities. It was interesting to share what we’re working on in Winona and to learn from other communities across the state and country.
Ultimately, the Mental Health Collaborative’s work will result in better mental health support and outcomes for people in our community. Throughout this process, I’ve been heartened by the interest and compassion of city, county, and community members. As our community’s health care provider, we at Winona Health feel fortunate to work with others who are committed to coming together to maximize and share each of our strengths.
The Mental Health Collaborative includes representation from Winona Health; Family & Children’s Center; Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center; Winona County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; city of Winona; Winona Police Department; Winona County; and Winona County Sheriff’s Department.