NORTH IDAHO — In North Idaho, mental health care isn’t always easy to talk about, or easy to access. That’s why Heritage Health is working to break down barriers to care.
“We’re in a rural area which also has some of the barriers of why people don’t get the mental health help that they need,” says Dianna Scott, a Behavioral Health Navigator at Heritage Health in Coeur d’Alene.
Scott works with kids and families, helping them navigate challenges that extend beyond the clinic doors. She says that in rural communities, teens struggle not only with anxiety or depression but also with stigma and isolation.
“Many families don’t just want to talk about what happens in their four walls. They find that to be a deficit, not something that we should do. So, you know, that stigma definitely is a barrier,” Scott explains.
She encourages families to break the silence and let kids know they’re not alone. “Just open the door and say that, ‘Hey, I feel low too sometimes. Can I help you?’ Opening the door to say ‘I see you, I hear you. How can I help?'”
For families unsure where to start, Heritage Health offers resources to help. The organization has Behavioral Health facilities in Kellogg, Coeur d’Alene, and St. Maries. It is working to make sure families don’t have to go too far for help.
Transportation is another significant challenge for North Idaho families, and Heritage Health provides resources to help patients get to appointments regardless of their location or income.
Scott’s message to struggling families is simple: “It’s okay, we all have that moment in life where we might need that help… just reach out and take it.”
Heritage Health offers an array of behavioral health resources to help families in need. Information about their services is available here.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
