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Date: 8/9/2022
SPRINGFIELD – As chair of the recently-established Mental Health Subcommittee, Ward 8 City Councilor Zaida Govan continues working with medical organizations and community partners to establish new mental health initiatives in Springfield.
The subcommittee hosted their inaugural meeting in March and features extensive collaborations with organizations like the Gándara Center, the Behavioral Health Network (BHN), the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, Baystate Health, the Mental Health Association and the School Committee’s Student and Parent Concerns subcommittee.
Govan shared that one of the subcommittee’s initial accomplishments is the establishment of Mental Health Check-In Days over the summer.
“We brought all the agencies together. We’re collaborating in a citywide effort to help people get a mental health checkup. It’s sort of like getting your annual physical. We believe that if people got an annual mental health checkup, we might prevent crisis from happening,” said Govan in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Govan, Mayor Domenic Sarno and several health agencies hosted the first Mental Health Check-In Day on June 29 in Court Square. Govan said the plan is to host the check-in days on the third Wednesday of each month throughout the summer as a trial period. Sarno expressed his support for these events via press release.
“Almost all of us know someone who is affected with a mental health issue – this touches all of us regardless of our background. Mental health, like physical health, is part of being human and seeking help when we struggle not something to be ashamed of,” said Sarno in his press release.
The initial success of the first two events is already inspiring local organizations to continue hosting regular mental health check-ins after the summer.
“We have a few agencies who have already decided they will continue to do mental health check-in days … They realized that this is something that is really necessary,” said Govan. Going forward, Govan said she is working with local state legislators to see if insurance companies will fund these events.
Govan remains dedicated to increasing mental health access across Springfield. She noted that mental health issues for many residents were aggravated by the stressors of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It is due to the isolation we had the last few years and the trauma from being afraid of getting COVID-19 … all of that caused trauma to people, so these people now are seeking help,” said Govan. Currently, Govan is working with organizations to make sure each reaches their capacity of patients in light of increased demand.
As the Mental Health subcommittee continues its work, Govan aspires for the group to connect residents with the mental health resources they seek.
“We want to make sure that everyone has access to the care they need before facing a crisis,” said Govan.
Readers can learn more updates about the Mental Health subcommittee and future Mental Health Check-In Days at https://www.springfield-ma.gov/cos/news.