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Lincoln County proclaims May 2025 Mental Health Awareness Month; officials highlight stigma, continuum of care
Summary
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on May 7 adopted a proclamation naming May 2025 Mental Health Awareness Month and heard presentations on prevention, crisis response and local services, including plans for a crisis drop‑in center and outreach training.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously May 7 to proclaim May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month and heard county public health staff outline local prevention, crisis‑response and outreach efforts.
Public health presenters said the county is emphasizing prevention and early intervention across a continuum of care that ranges from community training to behavioral‑health services for people with diagnosable conditions. Jessi Noble, mental health promotion specialist, said, “right now our numbers show us that we are not seeing increases in suicidality in either youth or adult, situations,” and framed current efforts as an opportunity to be more proactive than reactive.
The county’s proclamation, read by Board Chair Claire Hall, urges residents and institutions to help reduce stigma and expand access to services. Sarah Heard, health promotion program manager for Lincoln County Public Health, described the county’s approach as a continuum, saying the work ranges “from population level interventions of just training community members to know how to respond” down to behavioral health services for people with high needs.
Commissioners asked about stigma and access. Chair Hall asked presenters for specifics on combating stigma; Heard and Noble pointed to community conversations, targeted outreach to higher‑risk groups (including agricultural and fishing communities), and training such as Question‑Persuade‑Refer and Mental Health First Aid. Noble noted telehealth expanded access after the COVID‑19 pandemic and recommended calling 988 for immediate connection to help.
Commissioner Walter Chuck moved adoption of the proclamation; Commissioner Miller seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote of “aye.”
The presenters asked the board and public to support ongoing outreach, training and resources for high‑risk populations and noted a crisis drop‑in center is planned to reduce unnecessary emergency‑room use; staff said the center will open “soon” but did not provide a firm start date.
