Ames Plans Mental Health Public Forum To Connect Residents With Resources

Ames IA

30 April, 2021

7:40 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Ames: April 29, 2021 In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the public is invited to attend "Mental Health Wellness, Recovery, and Resiliency Initiative," a public forum to address mental health concerns, identify symptoms of mental illness, and connect residents with resources in central Iowa. The event, hosted by Ames Mayor John Haila, will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 20 at the Ames City Auditorium, 520 Sixth St. For those who prefer to attend remotely, the event will be livestreamed on social media and later archived on the City of Ames website (www.CityOfAmes.org). The keynote speaker will be Jason Haglund, a local mental health counselor and leader in the behavioral healthcare field, who will focus on identifying and responding to stress and anxiety brought on by the pandemic. As owner of Haglund Consulting LLC., Haglund provides behavioral health subject matter expertise and executive coaching based in Story City. A panel discussion featuring representatives from Iowa State University, Ames Community School District, National Alliance for Mentally Ill (NAMI), Central Iowa Community Services (CICS) Mental Health Region, and others is planned. More than a year of social isolation and restrictions brought about by COVID-19 have contributed to an influx of mental health calls affecting people of all ages, said Julie Saxton, Mental Health Advocate with the Ames Police Department. "The pandemic has created trauma for so many residents – not just in Ames but all over the country and the world. As a community, we need to come together and be part of the response." The Mental Health Wellness Recovery, and Resiliency Initiative represents the first in a series of mental health speakers, trainings, and educational opportunities planned through September. These forums are free and open to the public. This press release was produced by the City of Ames. The views expressed here are the author's own.