FARMINGTON – Thanks to a grant, San Juan County now has a Mental Wellness Resource Center to help residents gain access to services and programs for mental and behavioral health.

The center was funded by a grant from the New Mexico Human Services and Department of Behavioral Health Services Division, which encouraged San Juan County to apply for the Behavioral Health Investment Zone grant.

Based on the county’s overdose rates, alcoholism and suicides and the lack of behavioral and mental health resources, the county was awarded a $250,000 contract for 2021 and was invited to reapply every year for the next four years for up to $500,000 each year.

“A little over three years ago when I presented a vision to begin addressing mental health issues in our community, I was glad that there was full commission support to move forward,” said Jim Crowley, chairman pro-tem of the San Juan County Commission. “It’s truly exciting to see this vision come to fruition.”

In December 2018, the San Juan County Commission requested an analysis of behavioral health services in the county, including accessibility. The results of the six-month study were published in May 2019. One of the biggest issues dealt with access and resources, so the study suggested that the county implement a system to coordinate, collaborate and align behavioral health services across the county.

According to a county spokesman, after the ‘Gap Analysis’ Report was released, county commissioners directed the formation of a Behavioral Health Services director and hired Su Hodgman for the position.

“This is an awesome opportunity to move forward with our commissioners’ plans to improve the mental well-being of San Juan County,” Hodgman said. “As we continue to fill in the gaps for services and collaboration on all things associated with mental wellness, we’ll bring San Juan County to the status of being the place in New Mexico to be for wellness and happiness.”

The Mental Wellness Resource Center will act as a base to connect mental wellness services in the county to citizens, as well as generate collaboration between mental wellness service providers in the county, according to Neeley.

“People who seek treatment for mental wellness can find appropriate services and culturally relevant programs for their needs,” Neeley said.

The center is at 814 W. Maple St. in Farmington, directly across from San Juan Regional Medical Center. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and is maintaining COVID-safe practices.

For more information, call (505) 636-7110 or visit SJCounty.net/MWRC.

mmitchell@durangoherald.com