Ames Police release promo video ahead of next week's Story County Mental Health Expo

Ames Police officers are not ashamed to talk about their struggles with mental health. And they say you shouldn’t be ashamed either.

Several officers appear on camera in a promotional video for the Sept. 25 Story County Mental Health Expo to talk about their mental health diagnoses.

Ames Police Commander Jason Tuttle is among the personnel featured. As an early responder to the June 2, 2022, shooting at Ames’ Cornerstone Church, which left three people dead, Tuttle experienced physical and mental symptoms in the wake of the tragedy.

With his wife's and fellow officers' support, he sought professional help, which has made a difference.

“I’ve been in therapy for the last year,” Tuttle said in the video. “I feel much healthier, both physically and emotionally today.”

He shared his story so others wouldn't feel alone in their struggles.

“It’s okay to not be okay,” he said.

More: Cornerstone Church first responder receives city's highest honor with Award of Valor

Story County Mental Health Expo is free

The Story County Mental Health expo is entering its eighth year, which has grown annually. About 400 people attended in 2022, said Ames Police Department mental health advocate Julie Saxton.

“It’s free. It’s always free — admission, parking, food, everything,” she said. “We’ll have more than 35 vendors and keynote speaker Kai Roberts.”

The event runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25 in the Great Room at the Iowa State Memorial Union.

Kai Roberts will perform “Mental Health Through Music” at 7 p.m. The Pennsylvania-based mental health advocate uses hip-hop to share how he has dealt with anxiety and panic attacks.

“We always have such amazing keynote speakers from different backgrounds, with different experience,” Saxton said. “I think Kai will really relate with college students, but also with all ages. I think we can all relate to having anxiety.”

Youth suicide numbers are ‘astronomical’

The annual Mental Health Expo is held in conjunction with suicide awareness month.

The number of people in mental health crises is overwhelming, Saxton said. Last year, she received 2,800 mental health calls for service and responded to 2,500.

“Twenty percent of those calls were people who were actively suicidal,” she said.

At least one person in her daily call log is suicidal, and it’s often more than one.

“The number of youth that have died by suicide in Story County is astronomical,” Saxton said. “And the numbers are higher than even reported, because sometimes the family members don’t want to admit that’s what it was.”

More: Iowa's gender-affirming care ban is chasing transgender kids out of state for medical care

Saxton’s figures don’t include calls to Iowa State police, medical providers or social service organizations.

“There are many more people struggling that we don’t know about,” Saxton said. “Every therapist is full, the waiting lists are longer, especially if you’re a new patient.

“We’re also lacking medication providers, like psychiatrists — that’s countywide, statewide and nationwide.”

People on Medicaid take even longer to get treatment because “a lot of agencies and clinicians just don’t want to have to deal with it,” she said.

“It doesn’t make a lot of sense. It’s no different than being treated for a broken bone, going into the emergency room and being treated immediately,” Saxton said. “But it’s not at all the same for people who are struggling with mental health.”

Social media contributes to mental health issues

A combination of factors have contributed to the rise in mental illness, Saxton said.

The coronavirus pandemic forced many people to isolate, specifically having an effect on youth development.

“Our students don’t have coping skills and they are not resilient,” she said.

Social media can also play a role, which often is the root of anxiety and depression, Saxton said.

“We collectively are saying it’s okay to have a culture of hate. What I mean by that is: every community has a social media page, like Ames People,” Saxton said. “And if you are even looking at it, you are contributing to that.”

Although citizens have a right to free speech, she said, there are consequences. One of the consequences is a decline in mental health.

“It’s a cesspool of hate, misinformation, made up information, and that’s allowed,” Saxton said. “It’s a place for adults that are creating hate and anger, which we know as providers contributes to the decline of mental health.”

She said social media allows people to say whatever they want with no consequences, hiding behind their computer screens.

“My question to the community is, ‘Why is that okay?’” Saxton said.

The theme for the 2023 Story County Mental Health Expo is “Escape for overcoming anxiety and intrusive thoughts.”

A suicide prevention training is offered at 5:30 p.m. prior to next Monday’s expo. The hour-long class will give residents the skills to identify suicidal behavior and crisis.

As the Ames Police asks in their Mental Health Expo promo, "What's preventing you from reaching out?"

If you or a loved one are having thoughts of suicide, call 988 or reach the 24-hour crisis line at 855-581-8111.

Ronna Faaborg is a reporter for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rlawless@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Hip-hop artist is keynote for Story County Mental Health Expo