Program helps rural residents gain access to mental health resources

Fargo Cass Public Health said three of the six counties in the SE North Dakota Public Health Collaborative were already using Credible Mind, so it only made sense to bring the rest on board.

FARGO, N.D. – Public officials are attempting to make sure that people in more rural areas have access to mental health resources.

Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill counties have teamed up with Credible Mind, a free platform offering tens of thousands of mental health tools.

There are assessments to help you take stock of your current mental state and lists of providers in your area to get in-person counseling.

Fargo Cass Public Health says Credible Mind on its own can be a resource to help people work through some issues.

But it’s intended to get them started on their overall journey of mental wellness.

“If that [using the online resources only] seems to be adequate for them, that’s great,” said Holly Scott, public information officer for Fargo Cass Public Health, “but really what we hope is that for folks who are maybe going to seek professional help, CredibleMind can be the bridge. It can help them understand that they’re really not alone, and they can begin to gain an understanding of what they might be struggling with.”

You can use the site as a guest, but if you do sign up and take a mental health check-in assessment, you’re entered in a drawing to win a $100 Amazon gift card.