Governor Gordon to Convene Mental Health Summit in October

A mental health summit in Wyoming is scheduled for October. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

Encompassing a holistic approach, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, alongside members of the Legislative and Judicial branches, will be discussing the state of mental health in Wyoming during the 2022 Governor’s Mental Health Summit next month in Casper. Gordon said mental health continues to be a rising concern for many in the state. In 2020, Wyoming had the highest rate of death by suicide in the nation. Gordon said in order to address the scope of the problem, there must be active engagement in finding solutions and building partnerships and that enhancing collaboration will help deliver timely services to those experiencing difficulty accessing help.

Bringing together various perspectives from community partners, private providers and state leaders, panel discussions will highlight current efforts and the development of a common agenda for addressing mental health and substance abuse in Wyoming. The keynote speaker, Dr. Rob Anda, developer of the Adverse Childhood Experiences research and founder of ACE Interface, will lead a panel discussion highlighting the importance of establishing trauma-responsive communities.  The Governor’s Mental Health Summit will be Tuesday,  October 11, 7 am to 5 pm at the  Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper. The summit is free of charge and open to anyone with an interest in learning how to collectively move forward and improve mental health for all Wyoming residents. Organizers are requesting that those interested in attending register in advance. You can register for the summit here.