When 2023-24 RI President Gordon McInally asked each Rotary district to find a way to impact Mental Health in their area, District 5500 responded immediately.

District 5500 Governor Don Jorgensen brought together experts and committed members to form the District 5500 Action Group for Mental Health. The group welcomes active Rotarians from across the district.

The District Action Group quickly established two primary goals in line with the District Strategic Action Plan:

• Assist fellow members and Rotary families in need.
• Empower Rotary clubs to provide mental health support to their communities via education and club projects.

The group is currently engaged in the following activities:

1. Maintaining this District webpage and resource guide to provide information and contacts for mental and addiction resources in each district community.

The District Action Group researched available national, state, and local resources and supports for a wide variety of mental and behavioral health needs. The District 5500 Mental Health webpage has been created to provide resource information for Rotarians and the public and continues to grow with additional resources and communities.

Additions to the resource guide may be submitted for consideration to the District Action Group.

2. Offers confidential support to members in crisis or seeking assistance for family members, fellow Rotarians, or friends.

Rotarian mental health professionals provide ‘crisis-line’ style assistance to members in need. Several Rotarians utilized the confidential support of Action Group members over the holidays and in other times of stress during the year. Calls addressed depression, family addiction, and stress.  See below for contact information.

3. Provides Rotary Club presentations on relevant mental health topics.

The District Action Group on Mental Health offers quality, experienced speakers for mental health presentations and programs to clubs in the district.  Popular topics included Mental Health and Depression, and the Myth of Alcohol and Addiction.

Future Action Group projects may include:

Guidance for clubs to establish mental health community projects, including ‘Mental Health First Aid’ training for targeted populations, including first responders, school professionals, and healthcare providers.

Note:  Following the 2024 Rotary International convention in Singapore, the District Action Group on Mental Health approved linking with the Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives in order to share expertise and tools across the Rotary world.