Garfield Countyannounced a new, free online mental health resource last week to help those struggling during the COVID-19 crisis. CredibleMindPRO is a website that provides tools, assessments and local mental health information through articles, podcasts and videos.
"Feelings of uncertainty, vulnerability, anxiety, isolation and loneliness are taking their toll on citizens across our communities," Dr. Adam Lee Ford, a behavioral health specialist with the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. "95% of those individuals will reach out online to look for information."
Ford said all information covering over 240 topics on CredibleMindPRO, such as sleep and work-life balance, are vetted by psychologists, psychiatrists and doctors. He said it is not meant to be a replacement for professional in-person help, but as a tool to find information.
"We see this more as a resource for those individuals who are kind of afraid to seek assistance or don't know if they have any issues," Ford said. "When this pandemic happened, individuals who don't have mental health issues are still having PTSD symptoms [and] anxiety."
"Feelings of uncertainty, vulnerability, anxiety, isolation and loneliness are taking their toll on citizens across our communities."
He said one of the best parts about the new tool is a user can take an assessment for things like anxiety and depression. Based on the score, CredibleMindPRO will advise the user to use certain resources and tools on the website. After using those suggested resources, the user can take another assessment and see if the tools are improving their mental health.
"So that's one thing that [CredibleMindPRO] brings to the forefront is evidence-based approaches that are best practice, up-and-coming or tried and true," Ford said.
He said all information submitted to the online resource by residents is confidential.