Multnomah County and Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) are conducting a study of the local mental health system. As part of the study, Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran is hosting a community listening session on Monday, Dec. 11, at 5:30 p.m. to hear from members of the community.
Multnomah County is one of the largest safety net providers of physical and mental health care in Oregon. The mental health care system often seems fragmented and ineffective. Funding comes from many sources; several organizations provide care; and health reform continues to change the landscape.
Despite efforts to make improvements, too often people end up in crisis, in the emergency room or in jail. Systems do not work together as effectively as they could, and there are gaps that result in people falling through the cracks. As an emergency room doctor, Commissioner Meieran too often sees people who are experiencing mental health crises and understands how difficult it to can be to connect with the right mental health treatment and other services.
The listening session will be an opportunity to share your experiences regarding current resources and needs, and hear your thoughts on what a better mental health system could look like. The goal is to help the County and the HSRI team understand how the system is actually working in Multnomah County in order to identify opportunities for meaningful change.
Community Listening Session about Mental Health
Where: U.S. Bank Room at Central Library, 801 SW 10th Avenue, Portland
When: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Monday, December 11, 2017
Who: Members of the community, including people with lived experience of mental health issues and their family members, advocates, Please RSVP here and indicate if you need childcare, translation services or any other accommodations.
What to expect: Presentation, discussion, stories about mental health care system in Multnomah county
