Mental health is a growing problem
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By Jeff Snyder
MOUNT AYR, Iowa — The Ringgold County Board of Supervisors learned about some of the growing mental health issues in the area during a presentation by Miranda Wachter, who is the District Leader for Iowa Primary Care Association at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday at the Courthouse.
Iowa Primary Care Association’s mission is to advance community health through a strong network of health centers along with other safety net providers. Wachter discussed the importance of coordinating efforts between the area school systems, the sheriff’s department and the Ringgold County Hospital.
Mental health access presents a challenge to the area due in part to the lack of dedicated funding for these outreach programs. Specific needs revolve around a shortage of qualified staff to administer ongoing treatment of those presenting with mental health issues, specifically the area youth. Schools are flooded with students in need of counseling or more intensified treatment. Wachter explained that early intervention of these troubled young people help to steer them into the right direction before they end up in a critical care situation or even incarceration which is a common outcome to untreated illnesses. Schools are not equipped to absorb these needs and must rely on outside agencies to help alleviate the backlog of potential patients.
Wachter explained that supporting data is forthcoming regarding the frequency and scope of these problems specific to southwest Iowa. As is usually the case, funding is at the center of the solutions to these problems. Wachter agreed to schedule an additional meeting to go over the data with the Board of Supervisors as soon as the information becomes available. All in attendance agreed that this is a critically important problem that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Board members contemplated what are the issues in society currently that has impacted the rise of mental health incidences in recent years. Advancements in technology such as the near universal access to the internet and the advent of the smartphone could have been influential in feeding these mental health challenges young people face today.
