Episode 10: Renee VanMeter and Jessica Murphy, Deputy Division Directors in Emergency Services, Johnson County Mental Health

Renee and Jessica are responsible for some of the crucial Johnson County, Kansas mental health services: the open access walk-in clinic, 988, the mobile crisis response team, and mental health co-responders.  My conversation with Renee and Jessica solidified what I already knew—the country in which I live is incredibly fortunate to have the county mental health resources that we have. This episode highlights those resources, their functions, and how the country is continuing to expand and improve the mental health services offered to the community. This county’s mental health co-responder program is the model for other counties across the country and is responsible for founding the National Co-Responder Conference.No matter where you live, I promise you will find this episode informative and encouraging. These two women are passionate about helping people, and their enthusiasm for doing so is contagious. If you do not have such robust county mental health services in your area, or you are unaware of what your county offers, I encourage you to listen to this episode and use it as a springboard for action in your own community.