While continued dialogue is still needed on the subject, recent polls and statistics show that the topic of mental health is becoming a more normalized piece of everyday conversation.
That’s according to Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas Associate Director Michelle Ponce, one of several professionals in attendance for a joint town hall between the agency and Crosswinds Counseling and Wellness Thursday. According to Ponce, the agency recently conducted a statewide poll that indicated the vast majority of Kansans have an increased awareness on the importance of mental health and the need for services.
When asked what she believes attributes to this greater awareness, Ponce pointed to the larger national discussion on the topic that has been growing in recent years. She says, simply put, people aren’t as afraid to discuss the topic and are more actively including it in their traditional healthcare regimen.
In addition to the recent poll conducted by ACMHCK, Ponce pointed to the youth of today as an example of how mental health is starting to become far less stigmatized than it had been before.
This said, Ponce tells KVOE News that more work is still needed on the subject which makes events such as Thursday’s town hall so important. She says bringing the experts to the people, rather than simply waiting for them to seek out those services, is a great step towards making the subject more universally accepted.
Thursday’s town hall was just the third of more than 20 planned over the next several months across the state. For more information on the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, visit ACMHCK.org.
