Mental health center designated ‘model’ for COVID-19 response

The Northern Wyoming Mental Health Center has been designated a “model” facility for its response to COVID-19 and how quickly the facility got up and running with telehealth.

Paul Demple, who’s Northern Wyoming’s CEO, said that was the report of a national accreditation survey earlier this year.

In a report to Sheridan County’s state legislative delegation earlier this month, Demple said in response to the COVID-19 pandemic last spring, Northern Wyoming was able to respond very quickly.

Since then, Demple said, the mental health center has slowly opened back up to providing services in-person, but he said the facility is taking precautions including masks, social distancing and cleaning.

He said his main concern is with the mental health issues created by the COVID.

Demple said the mental health center is continuing outreach efforts, but he remains worried.

In addition to Sheridan County, the Northern Wyoming Mental Health Center also serves Johnson, Weston and Crook counties. He said there have been issues in Sheridan and Weston counties when members of the mental health center’s staff became ill with the COVID virus.