Morton County’s Hope Centers: Bridging the Mental Health Gap and Nurturing Community Well-being

For this month’s Spotlighting Prosperity, we are excited to showcase Morton County and the great work they have been doing to help the mental health crisis in their communities.

Mental health is a pervasive issue that touches the lives of everyone, and its complexities make navigation far from straightforward. In Morton County, however, the community members have boldly embraced this challenge, actively working to make a profound impact on those among them who require assistance.

Guided by the Rural Champions program, Alexis O’Hair, the Economic Development Director of Morton County, in collaboration with the appointed Rural Champion, Mike Horton, have embarked on a transformative endeavor. Together, they have established a network of “Hope Centers” located in each community within the county, offering individuals a secure haven in times of need.

The overarching goal of this initiative is to furnish rural community members with access to mental health resources around the clock. These resource locations boast confidential, unmanned spaces where individuals can connect to vital support through telephones with direct hotline connections and 988 Tele-Health services. The primary objective is to provide a nurturing environment that safeguards the privacy of those seeking help, dismantling the prevailing stigma associated with reaching out for assistance in a tight-knit community.

Within these resource locations, a wealth of resources awaits community members, encompassing mental health providers, medical professionals, veteran support services, and drug abuse assistance. In addition to those listed, resources include a wealth of educational materials such as pamphlets featuring contact numbers and web links to various resources, including food banks, clothing banks, the Ministerial Alliance, and AA Groups.

The profound aspiration behind this endeavor is to bridge the gap in waiting times for in-person professional assistance, thereby potentially saving lives among those who, out of fear of judgment, may refrain from seeking help at our emergency facilities. In Morton County, these resource locations symbolize a lifeline, a testament to the community’s unwavering commitment to the well-being of its members. These locations will be opening soon, and we cannot wait to see the difference they will make.

Watch KWCH news clip here:

https://www.kwch.com/video/2023/08/25/morton-county-creates-safe-spaces-mental-health-help/?fbclid=IwAR0mb89HDaj_6efGWWYHc_VXub016NoBEJZ75HYp8KrJcsk1ZS62Y5o6_os

Follow them on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/MortonCountyEconomicDevelopment