Working together we can improve mental health care

“If we start being honest about our pain, our anger, and our shortcomings instead of pretending they don’t exist, then maybe we’ll leave the world a better place than we found it.”- RW

Thought my life I have been hospitalized many times for my mental health and suicide attempts.

Looking back on my experience, and getting feedback from my community, there are many stories similar to mine. With this evaluation I have concluded a few things

• Behavioral health care and resources are either very limited or stretched very thin

• Sandpoint really has no type of mental health crisis intervention

• Community members are not able to get crisis intervention which leads to hospitalization

I write this comment to you, that I am standing up and advocating for the Sandpoint community, families, and friends. I will advocate until my last breath for a better mental healthcare system in Idaho, North Idaho, Bonner County, and Sandpoint.

I will share with you personally about what I’m doing, but that is not why I am writing this letter.

I am asking for the community to stand with me hand in hand. To stand up fir our families and do all that we can to provide mental health treatment and resources. Working together to flatten the curve of suicides, and pushing forward together to work toward preventing suicides in our community.

Thank you so much for taking your time to read this letter. Together we can and together we will.

LEO HUNSAKER

Sandpoint