LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department has launched a new online mental well-being platform to help people in the community take charge of their mental health.
It’s called Credible Minds.
The comprehensive new site includes access to over 10,000 self-care resources across more than 100 topics, including easy-to-navigate assessments for users to identify and understand some of the thoughts they may be wrestling with.
“This is not going to be an easy, fast fix,” said Kerry Kernen, the Health Director of LLCHD. “But we hope with these resources that the community has access to information, so they are well informed for assistance and help.”
Kernen said credible minds is the health department’s response to an ever-rising issue… Mental well-being.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults experiences mental illness each year.
In Lancaster County, Kernen explained that data shows similar trends.
“Every three years, we, along with the other health systems, Bryan Medical Center and CHI, develop a community health improvement plan based on community health assessment data that we collect the year prior,” she said.
Kernen said that throughout the years, mental health has been a main concern in the community.
“Everything from depression, anxiety, severe mental illness, and the challenges of getting connected to resources—and being informed of what they’re mental health is,” said Kernen.
So, with the help of their community health partners—Bryan Medical Center and CHI, the health department launched CredibleMinds.
“If you’re not sure in terms of signs and symptoms of a mental illness, you can take screening tools that will give you direction on what steps to take,” said Dr. Dave Miers, the senior director of behavioral services at Bryan Medical Center.
In addition to assessments, users will have access to content that’s adaptable to their needs and learning styles.
From credible articles and videos to podcasts on mental well-being.
It even connects those who are looking for in-depth solutions to local mental health resources.
“Oftentimes we don’t know where to go,” Miers said. “It’s like a one-stop shop.”
The health department says it will be tracking the types of assessments people are taking on the website. It will be shared with health system partners to measure the success of the new tool.
However, the answers from the assessments won’t be shared or recorded.
“All the information is confidential,” Kernen explained. “Nobody gets that information. You don’t put your name in any assessment. So, people can rest assured that that data is just that point in time.”
Credible Minds also has resources for parents and families who are looking to build healthy habits into their everyday lives.
To check out the ‘6 Pillars for emotional wellbeing—a parent’s guide’, it will be linked under this story on our website.
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