While it is not a replacement for receiving help from a licensed counselor,  the starting point for getting the mental health you need is just a few clicks of your mouse away.

The Door County Public Health Department’s CredibleMind platform celebrated its first anniversary earlier this month, helping dozens of residents in that time. The free service aggregates videos, podcasts, apps, online programs, books, articles, and local resources to give people a better understanding of their mental health in one place. One in five people in the United States suffers from some mental health illness, but the ratio of people who can assist is daunting. The state is ranked 34th in the nation when it comes to the ratio of residents to mental health professionals (420:1). It is even worse in Door County, where there is one mental health professional for every 710 residents. Public Health Strategist Shauna Blackledge says the CredibleMind platform has been received exceptionally well for people who need help but cannot get an appointment.

Over 2,000 people have accessed CredibleMind Door County for support since the platform launched in 2024. The United Way of Door County’s STRIDE program has also been a way for area kids to access mental health resources who may have never been able to get them otherwise. You can click this link to visit the CredibleMind platform and take one of the several mental health-related assessments.