Mental and behavioral health, as with physical health, directly impact an individual's ability to thrive in work, relationships, and the community, with direct implications in one's thoughts, feelings, decisions, and behaviors. However, mental health indicators point to low standings in mental and behavioral support and outcomes. In Polk County, the prevalence of individuals who "always or usually" get needed social/emotional support has decreased between 2012-2024, from 85% to 74%, respectively. Meanwhile, suicide mortality rates trend upwards, indicating a great need for intervention that is not currently met with appropriate, accessible services.

We intend to bolster mental health outcomes, ultimately reducing suicide mortality rates, by strengthening or building connections in the community to encourage mutual support and reduced stigma; educating the public about services that they may not currently be aware are at their disposal; and making those services generally more physically, culturally, or financially accessible. Achieving greater mental health has the potential to improve both individual and community well-being, making Polk County a happier, more supportive community.

Planning Process

The selected strategies, activities, indicators, and results are a product of a collaboratively-produced logic model, whereby a team of community stakeholders with interest or expertise in Mental Health voted upon evidence-based strategies and developed plans to implement them.

The following document depicts the logic model with potential strategies, which we consider as the blueprint for our process: Components of the logic model, such as inputs/resources needed or desired outcomes (like results), inform our strategic actions to improve Polk County's mental and behavioral health outcomes:

**CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE LOGIC MODEL: (MHLogicModel.docx)**

Strategies Considered

The following is the complete list of partner-provided strategies (some evidence-based) that were considered as ideas for "what can work" to make a difference in mental health outcomes and voted upon. Although not all strategies could be implemented through our Community Health Improvement Plan, some are still being considered for implementation in the community beyond this cycle:

• Community health workers
• Tele-mental health services
• Mental health first aid
• Mobile health for mental health
• Health literacy interventions
• Group-based parenting program
• Crisis Line
• Mental Health education
  • Healthful Living Standard Course of Study in schools, which includes mental health portion
• Mass media campaign against vapes and tobacco use (to reduce secondary effects of nicotine, THC, and harmful substances on mental health)
• Active recess and additional unstructured plan for students

Our work to ensure better mental and behavioral health outcomes for all ages and groups in Polk County is linked to HNC 2030 Desired Results 5 (Improve Child Well-Being) and 19 (Improve Access and Treatment for Mental Health Needs), which both target improvements in the mental/behavioral health categories. We intend to support these results, in tandem with our own, to ensure tailored and effective support for all Polk County citizens.