Root causes of poor health to be addressed locally

A group of community organizations working collaboratively as the Healthy Oconee Coalition will embark this month to address the root causes for poor health at the local level. Prisma Health’s Heather Goss, chairperson of the coalition, invites county residents to be part in events to create awareness of the reality of health for many in the community and to prepare community members to be able to help one another. The first will be mental health first aid training to help people not only understand mental health conditions, but to recognize them and be able to handle crisis situations they may encounter on the job. The mental health instruction will be offered this Friday (March 15) at the Walhalla Performing Arts Center and again on Tuesday, March 26 at the Oconee campus of Tri-County Technical College. A “Know Your Neighbor” day will be held Monday, March 18 at Seneca’s Gignilliat Community Center. DHEC health educator Misty Lee says organizers are excited about a poverty simulation planned for the event. The Healthy Oconee Coalition is one of nine coalitions across the state participating in the blueprint for health program of the South Carolina Office of Rural Health. Melinda Merrell of the Office of Rural Health says, “The health of Oconee County won’t change overnight, but over time the work they’re doing will have a big impact on the health of Oconee residents.”