Early attention to potential mental-health issues topped the list of recommendations from members of the Citizens Health Advisory Council, which wrapped up a yearlong project Wednesday to make behavioral health part and parcel of overall wellness in La Plata County.
Input gathered since this time last year from eight focus groups was studied to set five major priorities.
The first goal should be teaching children skills to cope with behavioral issues, panel members decided. The second goal was similar: Educate employers about the relevance of behavioral problems, treat employees with respect and provide wellness programs.
The next three goals were, respectively:
Promote personal ability to deal with behavior.
Build support networks or expand existing ones, and expand networking of health professionals.
Incorporate a spiritual aspect in providing treatment of behavioral health.
A steering committee now will devise a plan that makes behavioral health a component of wellness. The group then will look for funding from the Colorado Trust and the Colorado Health Foundation, two organizations that have supported the preliminary work of the health council.
After a healthful breakfast notable for its lack of pastries, health representatives heard Citizens Health Advisory Council coordinator Jaynee Fontecchio Spradling lay out the day’s work.
Participants broke into eight groups to discuss specific issues and then recommend up to five top priorities to the plenary session.
In the end, the larger group reduced 30 recommendations to a most meritorious five. The final tally was reached by giving 1 to 5 points for each recommendation. The ones with the most points ended on top.
During the last year, the focus groups brought together, separately, young people, medical providers, business interests, faith-based groups, nonprofits, rural communities, tribal members and the Hispanic community.
Overarching all specific interests were concerns about the stigma attached to mental health, access to health care and affordability.
daler@durangoherald.com
