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Fox Valley mental health resource website launches

May 10, 2017
ABC 2

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (WBAY-TV) MyconnectionNEW.org has been in the making since 2010 and Thursday at Fox Valley Tech, Northeast Wisconsin Mental Health connection in collaboration with United Way Fox Cities 211; the site finally launched.

"The desire to keep people from falling through the cracks or having them lose hope along their journey to find the right services," said Beth Clay of N.E.W. Mental Health Connection.

The website has a database of resources for mental health and substance abuse services in Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties.

The development of the site is funded through the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.

Menasha police and executive director of the statewide text HOPELINE say the site is a proactive approach for mental health.

"If people can access services make appointments, manage their healthcare if they can do that easier then they'll do it sooner," said John Wallschlaeger of Menasha Police Department.

"It's really going to be a nice one stop tool that says, 'hey, I'm struggling with this or I need help here' and they can find it in their area," said Barb Bigalke, Director of the Hopeline.

And to a parent who had a hard time finding the right resource for her son with migraines, she believes this website will help other parents like her.

"And having this being anonymous and being able to research it on your own, it's fantastic," said Kristen Bergstrom of Neenah.

She along with police and mental health professionals in the Fox Valley believe this is another step forward in continuing the mental health conversation.