Guthrie County Public Health is continuing to work on improving mental health services.

Guthrie County Health Services Director Jotham Arber says that they are working with Guthrie County Hospital on introducing a social worker there to help create wraparound services for those who need them, along with improving and adding to current mental health services. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio why they want to do this.

“Rural Iowa has been a desert for a while for true access to mental health, and so we’re really excited about being able to bring this position on and in partnership with our current mental health therapist and bringing on other mental health therapists to really kind of help those folks that are in need. And I think that that ties in very well with helping to abate some of the opioid issues that we’ve seen, especially around addictions, getting folks to the treatment that they need and getting them the resources that they need to live healthy lives.”

In the December 23rd Guthrie County Board of Supervisors meeting, Arber discussed a location in Stuart for opening a clinic, the need for a mental health budget, and hiring more service providers. He also mentioned that the current provider working with them has finished making sure their licensing was up to date.