Mental health council continues to seek more participants

Hill County Behavioral Health Local Advisory Council — formerly called the Mental Health Local Advisory Council — discussed how to be a voice for awareness, increase membership of consumers — people who utilize services — in the council including in outlying areas, and making presentations to organizations during its monthly meeting Monday.

“The purpose of the LAC is to assist in the improvement of behavioral health services in Hill County and to review and make recommendations about behavioral health services, as well as provide input and recommendations to Behavioral Health Advisory Council and the Central Service Area Authority,” Hill County Behavioral Health Local Advisory Council Chair Andi Daniel said in an interview after the meeting. “Membership consists of behavioral health providers, consumers, family members and community members interested in addressing the behavioral health needs in Hill County.”

She said anyone who is interested in shaping the behavioral health services and conversations should come to the meetings.

She added that, by state statute, these groups must have at least 50 percent consumer and or family member involvement, and few groups in the state are meeting these requirements. 

“Consumers are those who use behavioral health services in the community. It is important to hear from those who receive services in addition to those who provide services,” Daniel said. “The LAC will continue and we are working to define our specific purpose right now. Our bylaws have been updated and we will have our goals defined soon. We are currently working on some awareness activities.”

National Alliance on Mental Illness Havre President Crystal Laufer said during the meeting that the NAMI office will be closed this week due to the temperatures, but anyone who needs  to get a hold of her can contact her at 879-6646.

She said the NAMI family support groups will start meeting Sundays, beginning this Sunday, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Suite 212 in 305 Building on Third Avenue.

“The reason why is because I have had a lot of people say they’d come if we had it during the day, so we’re going to try it,” she said. “We are getting ready for our fundraising in March.

Addictive and Mental Disorders Division of Montana representative Jamie Hanson will be speaking at next month’s meeting.

The next meeting for the Hill County Behavioral Health Local Advisory Council will be Monday, Feb. 10, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Havre-Hill County Library.