On March 16, a grassroots committee hosted the Worland Mental Fitness Fair at the Worland Community Center.

Members of the panel were Dr. Ralph Louis, psychologist from Oxbow Counseling in Basin; Janae Harman, owner of Family Circle Counseling in Worland; Mary Johnson, CEO of Oxbow Counseling in Worland; and Carol Bell, provisionally licensed therapist at Foundations Counseling in Cody.

The panel answered prepared questions that came from the committee and from similar events in Shell, Greybull and Cowley.

The Northern Wyoming News will be covering the questions on a weekly basis throughout the next several weeks.

Question 2

What if someone does not want help?

Harman: I think that’s a really frustrating moment when you know that somebody needs help. And they’re not willing to see it. We want to force them. And the truth is we really can’t force them. But you can provide support and love to them, and check on them. Reach out to them. I wouldn’t like encourage you to pester them about getting help. But just let them know constantly that you’re there. Encourage others that you know care about them to check in on them, to make those connections, we know that connections make a difference in wellness, perhaps, that will encourage them to get some help. And I think that it doesn’t hurt to ask them now and then. But if they don’t want help, the best thing you can do is make those connections with them.

Bell: I want to say to that if you love someone who won’t accept help, and isn’t, isn’t ready for help, you should get help. Because I do feel like there is nothing more painful than watching someone you love, spiral and struggle and not be able to do anything.

I often think that sometimes in getting help yourself, you’re sort of, you know, blazing the trail for your loved one who doesn’t want help.

Johnson: Meet them where they are. We don’t have to always talk about it and get deep into the weeds. Sometimes it’s going for a walk together, or doing just being present with somebody. What we do know about mental health and suicide specifically is that one of the protective factors is time. And the more time you put between someone having that initial thought, and their ability to act on that thought the safer they are. So spending time with people just doing regular things can help them with their mental health issue.

Harman: There are times when they are actively suicidal, lots of people don’t know that you can you can call for authorities to help you with that. That it is important. Copycat services that help get 72 hour holds for people who are actively suicidal. And so if you see that, and they’re not willing, but they’re saying that they’re going to do something that you can call authorities, and get that assistance to have that hole put in place because we need that time.

Next week: Is it normal to have a mental illness at some time in your life?