Blair showing success in access to mental health services

BLAIR, Neb. (WOWT) – Bringing mental health services to people living in small towns has been an ongoing struggle.

“It’s hard to bring people to rural areas if you don’t live in the country, city people tend not to want to move to a small town to offer those services and Blair needed it terribly…not just Blair but the rest of the community and all the around us,” said Sue Miller, director of the clinic.

Noticing that need, Pastor Andrew Anderson with Get to church in Blair created the Upper Room Counseling Center. He came up with the idea to create it after talking to various people about his personal life.

“On the level, the kind of need these people have, there had to be something else. And we thought that instead of trying to ship to everyone, we would create something for all of Washington County. And as Sue mentioned, we see people from eight counties, more than 20 cities.”

Now, more than 200 individual families have been using their services.

“The impact has been bigger than anything any of us, on our best day, with our biggest imaginations, could have dreamed of,” Anderson said.

Having accessible services in the city is a big reason some Blair residents can get help.

“I love that it’s in Blair because I have four kids because I’m less likely to drive back and forth to Omaha all the time. So it’s really nice to have something close by,” said Blair resident Ashlie Oestreich.

Location is not the only factor.

“Most places in Omaha, they have a waiting list for people to get in. One month, two months, three months to go. And right now, we can see whoever needs to be seen in a relatively short period of time.”

“It feels like family. We come here, it’s very cozy. The staff has been great and helpful. They do a good job of just listening and really trying to connect with what’s going on in our lives,” said Gabin Oestreich, a resident of Blair.

The Upper Room Counseling Center currently has three therapists and plans to add another very soon.

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