Supporting Mental Health Professionals
Through Giving
When our neighbors, friends, or family are struggling with mental health, it can be challenging to fully understand and know how to support them. It can be even more difficult to get the right access to professional help and services when they are needed most.
In September, the Skagit Community Foundation was able to support a workshop and training series for local mental health professionals led and facilitated by Dr. Mark Ragins, an award-winning psychiatrist who brings more than 30 years of clinical mental health work. Ragins was formerly the Medical Director at the Mental Health America Village in Long Beach, California, and is now the campus psychiatrist at California State University Long Beach.
In our community, there is currently a shortage of licensed mental health clinicians. Dr. Ragins' workshop is providing information on an improved model to help meet the needs of those with mental illness as well as how to bring hope, compassion, and empowerment to the recovery process.
It has been a valuable opportunity to have Dr. Ragins leading workshops on innovative mental health practices. His emphasis on person-centered, client-driven and strengths-based approaches to care make real sense as we struggle to improve mental health services in our community. I have been very pleased that students from the SVC Human Services program have been able to participate in these excellent educational programs.
- Jere LaFollette, Skagit Valley College Instructor
Thanks to donors, this important workshop series was made free to local health professionals. Your support through giving is helping to make our Skagit community a better place for all.
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