SMH CEO speaks on behavioral health needs

Chief Executive Officer of Sheridan Memorial Hospital, Mike McCafferty, spoke on the need for mental health care in Wyoming while appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse. 

Recently, SMH and The Foundation Chief Development Officer Cody Sinclair said the hospital conducts a community needs assessment every three years, asking the Sheridan community what they feel is most important for them in regards to care. 

C. Sinclair 

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) – a research, journalism, and communications non-profit foundation – in May of 2022, among adults in Wyoming who reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder, 32% reported needing counseling or therapy but not receiving it in the past four weeks, compared to the U.S. average of 28%.

Reasons are ranging, some do not seek help due to a stigma that surrounds mental health issues and care. Wyoming is also a rural state, receiving mental health care may require traveling long distances. 

McCafferty said mental health is an issue the hospital has been working to address for two-decades. They have found the shortfall of accessibility to care comes down to lack of facilities and qualified personnel. 

M. McCafferty

The lack of mental health care can lead to substance abuse as a technique to self medicate or serious mental health disorders go unaddressed and untreated. Many times this leads to run-ins with law enforcement and other agencies. 

M. McCafferty

Expected to begin caring for patients early 2027, the SMH Behavioral Health Unit will offer outpatient psychiatric care, acute crisis stabilization and inpatient psychiatric treatment to ensure members of the community can receive mental healthcare in Sheridan.

M. McCafferty

Currently, the “Growing for You” campaign is raising funds for this project as SMH plans to build this system of care in Sheridan County to ensure those struggling with mental health have a location they can seek and receive care. 

But starting from scratch came with a heavy price tag, so leadership made the decision to utilize existing space at SMH. 

Evaluations have estimated $30 million would be required to construct a facility that would meet these mental health needs. By using existing space, the campaign goal is now $15 million, half of what building a new facility would cost. 

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