State & local leaders work on mental health issues

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch & Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen host roundtable discussion

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch joined Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen on Thursday at Noblesville Fire Station 71 for a mental health discussion with community leaders.

The attendees included Noblesville Common Council President Darren Peterson, Noblesville Common Council Vice President Megan Wiles, Noblesville Police Chief John Mann, Noblesville Fire Chief Matt Mitchell, and those who work in healthcare, at nonprofits, and other local organizations.

Attendees discussed the critical work they are doing at the local level, underscoring the significant impact of their efforts. They emphasized the importance of partnerships between other community organizations to help fill the gaps in care and services and how collaboration at the state, county, and local levels is critical to proactively helping more individuals in a mental health crisis or before they are in a crisis.

Noblesville Police Sgt. Ben Lugar (center) speaks about the city’s NobleAct program as Noblesville PD Social Worker Myechia Hudson (left) and Noblesville Police Chief John Mann (right) look on. (Photo provided by City of Noblesville)

Lt. Gov. Crouch spoke on the importance of the work the state is doing, including her work on the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable, as well as offering resources to attendees on grant opportunities for local organizations that the state has to offer.

Mayor Jensen highlighted the life-saving work of the NobleACT team, a proactive and sustainable mental health collaboration that strengthens community-based responses through partnerships with the police and fire departments and area service providers. The NobleACT team is leading the way in statewide and community paramedicine. This program is a blueprint for the Indiana Community Cares Grant Pilot Program, passed by the Indiana General Assembly in the 2024 legislative session.

Lt. Gov. Crouch met Luna and Sadie, two of the three therapy K9s for the City of Noblesville. Luna is part of the NobleACT team and responds to mental health calls with her handler, Sgt. Ben Lugar of Noblesville PD. Sadie is the city’s officer wellness K9 therapy dog, working alongside her handler, Sgt. Brice Swart of Noblesville PD.

The conversation was not only candid and productive but also impactful, leaving community leaders with valuable resources and ideas to consider as they continue their crucial work in helping those in need of mental health care.

Groups represented at the Mental Health Discussion included:

• Aspire Indiana
• City of Noblesville
• Frontline Counseling
• Good Samaritan Network
• Hamilton County Health Dept.
• Ignite Transform
• Noblesville Common Council
• Noblesville Diversity Coalition
• Noblesville Public Safety (Police, Fire, and NobleACT)
• Pathways to Healing Counseling
• Prevail
• Riverview Health Foundation
• Shepard Center of Hamilton County
• State of Indiana

Photos provided by City of Noblesville