The Washoe County Health District is among local agencies hosting a forum on behavioral health from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Oct. 2 in the Washoe County Commission Chambers, 1001 E. Ninth St., Building A.
The event, “More Powerful Together,” is also being put on by the Truckee Meadows Healthy Communities’ Behavioral Health Council in partnership with Renown Health. The public can learn why there’s a behavioral health crisis, what’s being done about it locally, and how people can help solve it.
The event aims to tackle the region’s behavioral health crisis by hearing from experts in the field and those affected in the community. Nevada’s suicide rate for those age 65 and older is two times the national average, and four times the average for those age 85 and older, according to the Washoe County Health District.
Washoe County
Health District.
“We encourage the public to attend this very important forum,” District Health Officer Kevin Dick said in a statement. “The Health District and TMHC conducted a health needs assessment recently, and behavioral health was one of the biggest issues identified by the community.
“We need the public’s input on this topic and we have a list of expert speakers scheduled to provide a much-needed conversation.”
Speakers scheduled are:
- State Sen. Julia Ratti
- Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam
- Dr. Kristen Davis-Coelho, Northern Nevada HOPES chief behavioral health officer
- Amber Howell, Washoe County Human Services director
- Kristen McNeill, Washoe County School District interim superintendent
- Kindle Craig, Renown Institutes senior director
Admission is free. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to Sharon Zadra at [email protected].
