Mental health is among Eau Claire County’s top health priorities, according to panelists who spoke Monday evening (March 8) at the annual educational event presented by the Women’s Giving Circle.
Panelists included Corina Fisher, a licensed clinical social worker with Prevea Health; Jackie Bachmeier, a philanthropy specialist with HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals; and Laura Baalrud, an outreach facilitator at Sacred Heart, where she has worked for 43 years. Some 80 people attended the virtual presentations.
Baalrud discussed ways to increase community access to mental health services as well as promoting and supporting suicide prevention services, particularly those aimed at youth. Fisher discussed depression in all age groups. She said it has many symptoms including a lack of interest in normal activities, not wanting to get out of bed, difficulty falling asleep and being easily frustrated or irritated.
Bachmeier discussed the barriers children and adolescents face when trying to access mental health services. These include transportation difficulties and the ability to pay, especially when someone is uninsured or underinsured.
The Women’s Giving Circle is an arm of the Eau Claire Community Foundation. It funds projects that enhance the well-being of local women and children.
**This brief account draws on material provided by Zaria Whitacre, a CVPost reporting intern. It will be updated as soon as possible.**