On Wednesday, Feb. 11, more than 100 community members gathered at Sheridan College for the “Building a Mental Health Collaborative”— an impactful half-day forum sponsored by the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation and designed to strengthen local partnerships and advance behavioral health services across Sheridan and Johnson counties.
This was the second year for the event, which brought together nonprofit leaders, private-practice clinicians, law enforcement professionals, hospital staff, educators, advocates and community members committed to improving mental health support in the region.
The collaborative event underscored the community’s shared commitment to transforming the local mental health landscape. Attendees participated in panel discussions and workshops that explored critical topics including access to care, barriers within the system, workforce challenges and practical strategies for enhancing coordination across sectors. Breakout sessions encouraged cross-discipline dialogue, allowing participants to share perspectives and build connections that will fuel ongoing work to strengthen systems of care.
As part of the event, SMH Director of Behavioral Health Brittany Goodvin shared updates regarding the upcoming opening of The Path Behavioral Health Center at the hospital. This facility represents a major investment in community health, structured around four key levels of care: outpatient services, walk-in access, a crisis stabilization unit and inpatient care. Together along with services available across the community, these components will create a continuum of services that meets people where they are in their mental health journey — expanding both access and timeliness of care.
Closing the evening, keynote speaker Dr. Eric Arzubi delivered an address focused on innovative, evidence-informed approaches to behavioral health. A board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and CEO of Frontier Psychiatry, Dr. Arzubi shared insights from his work implementing effective care models in rural communities — highlighting the importance of collaboration, flexibility and community engagement in expanding mental health infrastructure.
The event’s strong turnout reflected the widespread community interest in mental health solutions that are accessible, coordinated and rooted in compassionate care.
As the new behavioral health center moves closer to completion, the spirit of collaboration witnessed at the Building a Mental Health Collaborative on Feb. 11 will continue serving as a foundation for further progress — reminding the community that collective action is key to meaningful change.