Governor to deliver keynote address at mental health event Friday

WORLAND – Cloud Peak Counseling Center is getting set to host a mental health awareness event this Friday, May 14, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Worland Community Center, which will feature Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon providing the keynote address.

With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, Cloud Peak was looking for a way to help connect with the public and help spread awareness that mental health is not a subject that should be taboo to talk about.

The event will open with a speech from a past client who will talk about her experience with mental health.

The event will be a more generalized event which will allow for the public to ask questions regarding mental health to local organizations that help with mental health as they will have booths set up.

Booths will be hosted by entities including the Wyoming Department of Family Services, Washakie Prevention Coalition, Washakie County Prevention.

Cloud Peak officials said the governor’s speech is expected to center on the current status of mental health in the state due to COVID-19 as well as discussion about the suicide rates in the state.

After the governor speaks there will be a lunch featuring hamburgers and hot dogs along with chips and cookies. The event is free and anyone in the public is welcome; any health and safety guidelines put in place are being followed as they are set by the Washakie County Public Health Officer.

Cloud Peak is hoping to make this an annual event in coordination with Mental Health Awareness Month.