MARSHALL — The need for better access to mental health resources was one of the top concerns revealed by a community health assessment in southwest Minnesota, representatives of Southwest Health and Human Services said this week. Now, SWHHS is helping to make mental health information and resources freely available through a new online service.

Area residents now have access to CredibleMind, a free website with information on health topics, self-assessments and links to community mental health resources in the six-county SWHHS service area. SWHHS covers Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Pipestone, Murray and Rock counties.

“We are excited to launch CredibleMind in southwest Minnesota” said Public Health Director Carol Biren. “This remarkable resource will provide residents in our communities with improved access to the tools and resources needed to prioritize health and well-being.

Mental health resources were one of the top health needs identified in a community health assessment conducted by SWHHS every five years, said Ann Orren, supervisor of community public health at SWHHS.

“We saw that mental health rose to the top” Orren said. A 2023 Adult Health Survey also found that 29% of respondents in southwest Minnesota reported having a mental health condition, SWHHS said.

Orren said SWHHS was looking for resources that could help people support their mental health. They discovered the CredibleMind platform through the Association of City and County Health Organizations. Public health organizations in some Minnesota counties, including Olmsted and Waseca counties, have already launched mental health sites through CredibleMind, Orren said.

“It seemed like a really good resource” she said. Olmsted County has also received a lot of positive feedback, she said.

The SWHHS CredibleMind site offers mental health and wellness resources that are free, confidential and available 24/7, Orren said. The site is available in English and Spanish, she said. In addition to mental health topics, the site offers information and resources on stress management, parenting, better sleep, and more. “Everything is checked by professionals” with accurate and up-to-date information, Orren said.

In addition to news articles, videos and podcasts, the CredibleMind site provides links to community health and counseling resources in the six-county area.

In a press release about the launch of CredibleMind, SWHHS said that user information on the site will remain confidential and will not be shared with any organization. Aggregated data on the number of users and top-viewed topics on the site will be used to help develop future resources, but the data is not tracked by individual users, SWHHS said.

Although the website is free for users, Orren said SWHHS will pay for a subscription to the CredibleMind service in its area. Costs for the first year will be about $13,000 and $21,000 per year for the next two years, Orren said.

Area residents can browse the CredibleMind website or create an account at swmn.crediblemind.com.