Valley residents who work or live in Pitkin County are encouraged to take a mental wellbeing survey to help create the county’s mental health strategic plan.
About 70 people have taken the survey so far. The survey asks about access to mental health services, what affects mental wellbeing and the mental state of people around them.
Jordana Sabella, the Planning, Prevention and Partnerships Manager at Pitkin County Public Health, said the more people who take the anonymous survey, the better the community’s needs will be reflected in the strategic plan.
“We really believe that everyone should have the opportunity for good mental health,” Sabella said. “So we are really looking to the community to learn how the community can be healthy, and what supports are needed when life gets challenging.”
The survey results will be used to help build Pitkin County’s Mental Health Strategic Plan, which Sabella said will create a vision for what mental health should look like in the area.
To get the word out to residents and workers about the survey, Pitkin County is partnering with Aspen School District, the City of Aspen, Aspen Skiing Co. and Aspen Community Foundation. They will all help advertise the survey.
Sabella said all of those organizations are hands-on participants in the move for better mental health care. All of the partners have been working together to fund mental health initiatives in the Valley.
“Everyone’s got a stake in the game around mental health,” Sabella said. “All of these organizations really recognize how important mental health is in the community, and how much we still have to do.”
The survey is open online in both English and Spanish until October 4 at www.pitkincountyconnect.com.