News Events

Racism is a Public Health Crisis

The Unified Government Public Health Department is taking an important new step in their efforts to address health disparities in Wyandotte County: by declaring racism as a public health crisis. If approved, the Unified Government would join more than 250 other cities, counties and government entities, including Kansas City, Missouri, in making similar declarations.

Continuing Conversations Around Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention Month may be behind us, but the conversation can’t stop when September ends. A new public perception poll shows that while most adults would try to help if someone close to them was thinking about suicide, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed believe they aren’t equipped to talk about suicide with someone who is struggling.

Wyandot BHN Hosts Staff Appreciation Event

Nearly 200 Wyandot BHN staff and board members gathered in the Shield Club at Children’s Mercy Park on September 8 for an evening of recognition and celebration. The event marked the end of an exciting year for Wyandot BHN, during which WBHN achieved designation as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).

The Importance of Hope During Suicide Prevention Month

Late last month, the suicide death of a young Wisconsin news anchor made headlines. Neena Pacholke was just 27 years old. Tragically, suicide continues to claim too many lives.

In Kansas, someone dies by suicide every 16 hours, according to Kansas Suicide Prevention Headquarters (KSPHQ). Suicide was the 9th leading cause of death in Kansas in 2019.

Wyandot BHN Withdraws from Downtown Education, Health & Wellness Campus Campaign

For the past couple of years, Wyandot Behavioral Health Network has been an active partner along with Kansas City Kansas Community College, Swope Health, CommunityAmerica Credit Union and the YMCA to build a new education, health and wellness campus in downtown Kansas City, Kansas. The goal is to establish a self-sustaining economic solution for downtown Kansas City, Kansas, to help end the social and economic inequities that have prevailed in this area for decades.

Wyandot BHN recently made the difficult decision to withdraw from this effort and pursue other options for establishing a service location in eastern Wyandotte County.

Commitment to Diversity Must Begin at the Top

Creating a team that can provide compassionate, culturally competent care requires that diverse voices and perspectives be present at all levels. When diverse voices have a seat at the table, their lived experiences and knowledge put an organization in a much better position to stay in tune with the needs of the community.

Recognizing BIPOC Mental Health Month

July is Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month, also known as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. The month, much like its namesake, is dedicated to highlighting and improving the mental health of diverse communities. But in order to improve mental health in the BIPOC community, we first have to seek to understand and respect the unique stressors and barriers they live with, which impact their access to mental health services.

A Community Approach to Addressing Trauma

At the heart of Alive & Thrive Wyandotte County is a simple concept: provide grassroots communities with tools, resources and support so they can build a more resilient and trauma-informed community.

In May, Alive & Thrive, a project administered by Wyandot BHN, held a virtual Mid-Year Summit to advance that work. The half-day event brought together residents, organizations and Alive & Thrive staff to further articulate plans for community projects that promote resilience in Wyandotte County—especially in communities that experience the effects of generational trauma.

Increasing Mental Health Awareness Through Art

A group of community artists from across the Kansas City metro came together during Mental Health Awareness Month with one goal in mind: to start a conversation about mental health.

988 Lifeline Launches July 16

On July 16, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched in Kansas and across the U.S. In June, Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill to provide funding and regulation for the hotline. 988 is specifically designed to be used in instances where a person is experiencing a behavioral health or substance use crisis.

Blaming Mental Illness for Mass Shootings is Harmful

When tragedy strikes, it is normal to want to understand why it happened. Being able to pinpoint the “why” can sometimes provide a degree of comfort and give us something to focus on as we work to prevent a similar tragedy from happening in the future. But this can often lead to finger pointing about who or what is to blame for tragedies.

Why Mental Health Awareness Matters

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a time to raise awareness and help reduce the stigma associated with mental health. We know that nearly 1 in 5 American adults will experience a mental illness in a given year. Yet for so many people, talking openly about mental health and seeking treatment still feels out of reach. No one should have to tackle the challenges of mental illness alone. This is why awareness is so important.