Washington County’s Mental Health and Disability Services report was presented at Tuesday’s Washington County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Director Bobbie Wulf said CHOICES drop in center is averaging 11-13 visits per day and helped serve 10 homeless people last quarter. Also, three people have undergone peer support training. Wulf said the emergency room support by Hillcrest is undergoing changes in hours and will now only operate until 5 p.m., “Due to the lack of ability to maintain mental health professionals and therapists who are willing to do crisis work.” Wulf adds the SEIL region is considering other options to further those services.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and Wulf says they’re working to battle the stigma associated with mental health care, “We’re focusing on awareness to our community, so we can battle the stigma in that manner. There are one in five Americans who have experienced a mental health related concern and that number is on the rise according to statistics. So in honor of those who have lived with mental health related issues and the lives that we have lost, please remember that kindness is something that all of our communities hold and we can offer each other.”

The new 1-800 number for Great River Medical Center is active and is 1-877-444-4770.