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By Deborah Courson Smith/Deb Courson Smith, Public News Service - WY, Contact
December 18, 2012CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The school shootings in Connecticut have sparked a national dialogue about the availability of mental health care. Even though Wyoming is a frontier state, there is a mental health clinic in every county.
Peak Wellness Center executive director Dr. David Birney says holiday stress is another reason awareness about mental health concerns has been heightened.
"There are lots of people who know they need help, but aren't quite sure where to go. We just want for people to know that there is help available to them across the State of Wyoming."
The clinics charge on a sliding-fee scale and accept most insurance and Medicaid, so services are affordable for everyone. A listing of clinics, as well as substance abuse treatment centers in each county, is at WyomingWellness.com.
Dr. Birney says Wyomingites may not be aware that mental health care is so close at hand, thanks to the efforts of state officials.
"So, what they've done - through a lot of work of the Wyoming State Legislature - is make sure that behavioral health care is available within close proximity to everyone's home."
Dr. Birney says that, looking ahead, there are some budget concerns as cuts are looming for mental health centers over the next two years, unless new revenues are found.
