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LAFAYETTE, IND – A unique mental health simulation and workshop featuring local and statewide elected officials is set to take place Wednesday.
According to organizers, the purpose of this event is to address opportunities for improving mental health care systems at the local, state, and federal legislative levels.
Who is behind this simulation and workshop?
Valley Oaks Health, Institute for Mental Health and Addiction Care and the Local Legislative Forum are planning a mental health simulation and workshop for Wednesday.
“The Forum is comprised of individuals and organizations invested in advocating for appropriate legislative action to address mental health and addiction concerns in the communities we serve,” said Dr. Monique Kulkarni, licensed psychologist and senior director of clinical services at Valley Oaks Health. .
Modeling how individuals access local mental health services
Not primarily a presentation-based event, Wednesday’s simulation and workshop will instead showcase what people go through to access local, essential mental health services.
According to Kulkarni, there are several sites run by mental health professionals representing different mental health services. Legislators go from station to station to find the mental health services they need for the mental health issue they are presented with at the beginning of the simulation.
“(Mental health services representatives) will tell you what you can or cannot do and will probably direct you to another desk that represents another mental health provider,” Kulkarni wrote. “(The goal is) to highlight mental health needs in our community and give participants an opportunity to try to navigate the complex network of mental health resources in our community.”
Who can participate in the picture?
Unfortunately, this simulation and workshop is not open to the public, but rather to legislators, current state and federal representatives and senators, sheriffs, mayors and county commissioners, as well as any candidates in the November election, Kulkarni said.
“(However,) the group hosts an annual legislative forum that gives the public an opportunity to hear about the current state of our mental health system,” Kulkarni said, “focused on policy priorities for mental health providers and question-and-answer sessions with elected officials on these topics.”
When and where is the event?
The workshop will be held on Wednesdays from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Howarth Center, 615 North 19th St. It will be held in Lafayette. Kulkarni pointed out that the event cannot accommodate public observers during the simulation.
“This event is a collaborative labor of love by so many people who are passionate about improving the state of the mental health care system,” Kulkarni said. “The identities/characters in the simulation are based on real people that our team members know and have tried to support in some way.
“The mental health care system is in dire straits, and we want to make sure our elected officials are equipped to act on behalf of their constituents.”
Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal and Courier. Email him at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter @MargaretJC2.
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