Dear Editor:

Recently a friend asked if I knew a therapist or counselor who could help him cope with his partner’s increasingly troublesome behavior. The couple and their families are experiencing a lot of stress. Her life is in a tailspin, complicated with drug use and no job. Substance use and mental health issues often go hand in hand. Where does someone who needs help with these issues find it? What happens if they do not have insurance? Or the money to pay for needed services?

His request for assistance was timely. I am a member of a group at Healthy Lincoln County (HLC) seeking answers to these questions in order to find solutions. We want to help people get assistance in Lincoln County when they need it. We are assessing available mental health and substance use service needs for our region and would like to hear from people who have lived through an experience similar to my friend’s. We have talked with 20 people so far and have found their stories helpful in identifying the strengths and gaps, the barriers and needs of our existing services. If you would like to help improve access to mental health and substance use services, please contact Healthy Lincoln County, 563-1330 or email director@healthylincolncounty.org orprogram@healthylincolncounty.org.

Mary Ellen Barnes

L.C. Regional Planning Commission