In November of 2022, Mayor Joan Hawkins received an email from Talje Hoene, the University of Idaho Extension Mental Health Program Coordinator, with an offer to partnership in a rural health project to improve community mental health. Recalling meetings she had attended locally where experts had cited the lack of mental health support in the area, Mayor Hawkins replied to Ms. Hoene that she was interested in bringing the program to her community.

In 2023, six meetings were held with Bracken Henderson of the University of idaho Extension in Franklin County coordinating the meetings. Many people came to the first meeting, and a definite interest was shown, with many local residents providing important input as to what they felt the needs were for the Malad community. Gradually the attendees tapered off, leaving Mayor Hawkins, Lance Tripp, Kathy Hubbard, Jody Owens, Holly Llewellyn, Taia Murray, Robert Hannah, Nacona Smith, Sarah McIntyre, Jon Abrams, and Bill Lewis as those remaining involved. David Colton has also been invited to attend to represent the Oneida County Senior Center. 

The six meetings with the University of Idaho were held with the purpose of coming up with a plan to help with mental health awareness and support for Oneida County residents. The University of Idaho provided $3,000 to be used in putting a plan into action.

Several in the group explained how difficult it was to find the right help when someone in their family or among their friends was suffering from a mental health issue, including depression, anxiety, loneliness, suicide threat, and others. They felt that the biggest need was to provide information to help lead people in the right direction. Sarah McInryre offered to develop a website. The website is almost complete, but there are areas still being worked on. The most important thing is, that the website provides telephone numbers and other resources to get a person get started on their journey to finding help. The website can be accessed at maladidaho.org under “Community” or at https://sites.google.com/malad.us/oneida-mentalhealth/home.

A decision was made to purchase, with the funds provided by the University of Idaho, refrigerator magnets to distribute to every household in Oneida County that would provide the website address. Kathy Hubbard took on this project. During that time, she approached a company that prints advertising magnets every two years and distributes them in Oneida County for business advertising. They indicated that they would print for free on the business magnet the website address for mental health resources. From there, people could go to the website and find help for their individual problem.

With the first two ideas taken care of through volunteers, the group still had $3,000 to figure out how to use. Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital provides mental health support for their employees. The Oneida School District has several supports available for students, their parents, teachers and other staff. (oneidaschooldistrict.org under “Oneida Cares”). It was discussed about providing a support such as this countywide, but it was felt that right now, these two providers were covering much of
the population.

Thoughts then turned to what this small group could do to help, using the stipend provided. Discussions were held regarding senior members of the community who are vulnerable because of lack of mobility as they age. Another concern discussed was technology addictions, particularly among the young people. Dr. Abrams provided statistics at the January meeting about the rise in depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-harming since 2012 when the cell phone became more available to everyone. The consensus at that meeting was that people of all ages need to get outside and be more active, be more engaged with others, and serve in
their community.

To use the stipend, the decision was made to provide six activities through the year to help people engage. One event that will be held before, or right after school starts next fall, is a public meeting on technology addiction provided by Mr. Abrams. 

Rachel Madsen offered to provide a questionnaire to take to the Malad Senior Citizens Center to see what kind of activities they would be interested in, such as photography, painting, dancing, fitness, and others. These activities would be for the entire community, not just senior citizens. It was determined that it is important for young people to be aware of senior members of the community and their needs and to be involved with them. The activities will also, hopefully, be taught by those in the community, young or old, to everyone that would like to participate.

Right after the January meeting, Mayor Hawkins received a flyer from the Southeast Idaho Council of Governments (SICOG), Area Agency on Aging about a project they were doing in Pocatello, “Valentines for Seniors”. She quickly got in touch with Elementary School Principal Sarah McIntyre and Kathy Hubbard with Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital. It was last minute, but they decided to do a “Valentine for Seniors and Singles” in Oneida County. From a list hastily put together, the Malad Elementary students prepared hand-made Valentine postcards that were mailed to 430 local residents. Many comments were heard in the community about how much happiness that small effort made!

Watch for more information! We are hoping for a year of fun and informative activities and hope that everyone will make an effort to be involved, not only for your own mental health, but for that of others.

The committee for Malad City/Oneida County Mental Health Awareness meets on the last Tuesday of every month at Malad City Hall at 4:00 p.m. If anyone would like to be a part of this committee, please feel free to attend.