Welcome to the Community Mental Health Information Community Partnerships Toolkit, a comprehensive collection of resources designed to help community organizations, healthcare providers, educators, and other partners effectively address mental health information needs within their communities. This toolkit offers practical guides, templates, and strategies to establish and maintain partnerships, develop mental health programs, and promote community-wide mental health awareness and support. By leveraging these resources, you can create impactful mental health information initiatives that are inclusive, sustainable, and tailored to the unique needs of your community.
Mental health is a critical public health issue affecting diverse populations, including veterans, teens, LGBTQIA+ individuals, seniors, and rural communities. Improving access to mental health information requires a comprehensive, community-based approach involving key community members such as public libraries, public health departments, community organizations, and other partners. The NNLM Region 6 Advisory Group for the State of Iowa & has developed the Community Partnerships for Mental Health Information Toolkit to support these efforts. This toolkit empowers community organizations by providing practical resources, evidence-based strategies, and programming ideas to promote mental health and well-being.
Recent reports from the CDC and other health organizations highlight the growing mental health challenges faced by different demographics, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions among teens and older adults. These findings underscore the urgent need for accessible mental health information resources and support within local communities. However, many community organizations may lack the tools and guidance to address these needs effectively. The Community Partnerships for Mental Health Information Toolkit provides a solution by offering a structured approach to forming partnerships, sharing resources, and implementing mental health programs. By equipping community leaders with this toolkit, we aim to enhance their capacity to improve access to mental health information, deliver timely and relevant mental health support, and ultimately improve the mental health outcomes of their communities.
Purpose
The Community Partnerships for Mental Health Information Toolkit aims to facilitate the creation of effective, sustainable community partnerships that address mental health needs at a local level. The toolkit provides a variety of resources, including:
- Toolkit for Establishing and Maintaining Community Partnerships for Mental Health Information Outreach (pdf) A practical guidance for individuals and organizations to identify, establish, and maintain effective community partnerships to address mental health issues by improving awareness and access to mental health information
- Guide for Locating and Sharing Local Mental Health Resources (pdf) provides tools and strategies for identifying, compiling, and sharing local mental health information resources within your community.
- Quick Start Guide: Locating and Collaborating with Community Partners for Mental Health (pdf) This brief guide provides a framework for identifying and collaborating with community partners to support mental health initiatives, enhancing resource availability, outreach, and sustainable support networks.
- Programming Templates and Guides for developing and implementing community-based mental health programs.
- Iowa Mental Health Resources Bookmarks to raise awareness and engage the community.
By utilizing these resources, community organizations can enhance their efforts to promote mental health awareness and increase access to mental health information and services.
The project was developed under the supervision of the NNLM Region 6 State of Iowa Advisory Group.
Note: While developed for the State of Iowa, this toolkit can be used by anyone to increase awareness of mental health information resources and reduce stigma.