You Are the Experts
An expert is defined as one with the special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject.
According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), there are 3,363 designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas in rural areas. It is estimated it would take 1,676 practitioners to remove these designations. Given this information, it is easy to assume that the presence of mental health professionals in a rural community, much like yourselves, is a rarity. It is also relatively safe to assume that your program may be the only mental health service in the community. If this is true, YOU are the local expert on mental health and behavioral health in your community.
This local expert status comes with a responsibility to your community. A responsibility to promote, educate and inform. A responsibility to identify, assess and treat. A responsibility to improve, motivate, and inspire.
I challenge you local experts to engage more with the community and learn into your expert status. Provide educational resources on mental health and behavioral health. Break down stigmas related to mental health by driving the conversation. Inspire others to engage more with their peers and ask the questions needed to be asked.
Be the expert your community so desperately needs.
Jacob Shaheen
Director of Business Development