Submitted by Kim Sewell

For those of you who do not know me, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kim Sewell, and I have lived in Crescent Valley for about four and a half years. I work in the town hall as a civil processor for the Eureka County Sheriff’s Office. I volunteer as an EMT for the county as well, and I am currently the chair of the Crescent Valley Medical Services Advisory Committee (CVMSAC). If you would like to meet me in person, I will be at Cops ‘n Kids in both Eureka and Crescent Valley. I will also be at the in-person voting in Crescent Valley, or you may stop by the town hall any day I’m working. The CVMSAC meets monthly in the town hall; meetings are open to the public, and we value the input of the community. My thoughts and views expressed here are not a reflection of Eureka County SO, EMS or CVMSAC. I am not profiting in any way from any entity by writing this. I am writing this as a private citizen, concerned for the community. I have been in the health care field for about 20 years now. I truly care about the well-being of everyone, especially those in our county. I am hoping my words have an impact on at least one person and can help them.

I would like to give everyone an update on some exciting things coming our way in the health care aspect. This information was discussed at our last meeting and was shared with publicly at the Eureka Board of Community Commissioners’ meeting May 19 and the Crescent Valley Town Advisory Board Committee meeting May 20. Vitality Unlimited has received a grant to operate a mobile service to bring care outside of Elko. All of Vitality’s services will be offered at the mobile clinic, such as substance-use counseling, primary care, peer recovery support and mental health services. To keep these services going, they need clients to attend and utilize the mobile clinic. You do not have to be a current client of Vitality Unlimited to take part in these services; you can sign up with them any time. If you are a current client, you can simply switch to being seen at one of the locations. They will be in Eureka on the first and third Wednesday of each month at Raine’s Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and in Crescent Valley on the first and third Monday of each month at the CV Clinic from 8 a.m. to noon. These services are in addition to the clinic services already provided by William Bee Ririe Hospital. If you are interested in talking more about this or other advancements we are reaching for, come to our meetings. The next one is June 11 at 5 p.m. at the town hall in Crescent Valley. We do have other health care solutions we are trying to secure as well, so hopefully we can continue to expand availability and options. I am overly excited about the mental health services and substance-use support Vitality offers. Sadly, there are not enough of these services in general, let alone in our state or county. 

Now, on to a more personal matter. Our community is grieving the loss of too many people gone too soon from us. My heart is broken. I want to change the stigma surrounding mental health. Every one of us reacts to trauma, grief and life in general differently. What is upsetting or life-altering to one person is not to another. And that is okay. Oh, the joys of being individual and unique!!! There is absolutely nothing wrong with having struggles. Fact: Every single person has had a struggle or two at some point in their life! Help is available! Help is here! You don’t even have to wait for the mobile clinic to be in town to receive assistance. Call EMS; we can transport you to Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital (NNRH) for mental health services. That is our job; we signed up to help each and every one of you, without judgment or criticism. NNRH has an entire floor dedicated to mental health services. I would much rather take you to Elko at 2 a.m. to receive the help you need than the alternative that feels like your only choice. It is not your only solution, I assure you. Reach out. Maybe you still don’t want to see someone you might know. I get that, I really do. You can call 988 and talk to someone you don’t know and who doesn’t know you. For me, sometimes it is easier to vent to someone that is unbiased and doesn’t know me from Amy.

You are not alone. You matter. You are part of a community that loves and cares for you. It is not easy asking for help, but please don’t be afraid to reach out. We are here for you.

Vitality Unlimited 775-777-8477

988 Mental Health Crisis Hotline

911 Emergency Dispatch