Free mental health sessions available to county residents

Big Horn County Prevention Specialist Travis Sylvester appeared before the commissioners via Zoom on October 17.
He explained that through the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, nearly every person in BHC qualifies for six free mental health sessions. This is through the Wyoming Department of Health. It is targeted for the ag, farming and rodeo communities. Vouchers are provided by Grace for 2 Brothers. Those interested may call 307-256-3344.
Sylvester said he attended the mandatory training for prevention in Casper. This means the county complies and will still receive grant money.   
He said there are funds available from the prevention budget to help the agencies involved in the BHC Coalition with projects. The example he gave was with the Lovell schools and their Red Ribbon Week.
Another major project was the mental health fair in Cowley.  The panel and speakers were great, but the attendance was underwhelming. He wonders if this was because there still is a stigma about mental health and people are relucent to take proactive steps to learn skills to help.
He said that he is working with Big Horn County Citizens for Economic Development and other partners to find the best formula to get community involvement.
At the last county coalition meeting there was a robust conversation, spurred on a staff person from Drug Court. The conversation was about how to get more Narcan available. It is a nasal spray that can treat narcotic overdose.
The hope for this county is to get Narcan to the schools, fire departments and possibly some employers.  
Sylvester said one focus is the outlying communities where EMT response time is longer because of the distance and winter weather conditions. If two or three people in the community could go through the training and have Narcan, lives could be saved.