Mental Health Awareness Month: It’s ok to not be ok
Mental health services available at VMH Clinics ... May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s ok to have a mental illness and it’s important those with a mental illness know it’s ok to not be ok to help reduce the stigma and encourage them to seek the care and treatment they need. Tara Fink, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, offers local behavioral health care. She has a passion for mental health care and working in the underserved communities in Northeast Iowa. Tara has a goal of improving the community she grew up in through an improved culture of acceptance, improvement in psychological resilience and the reduction of stigma and indifference. She provides consultations at both the Waukon and Postville clinic locations with no referral needed. All ages accepted. To make an appointment to see Tara in Postville call 563-864-7221 or in Waukon call 563-568-5530. Submitted photo.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s ok to have a mental illness and it’s important those with a mental illness know it’s ok to not be ok to help reduce stigma and encourage them to seek care and treatment needed.
Tara Fink, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, joined the Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinic staff to offer behavioral health care to help meet the great need for mental health care in northeast Iowa. Tara provides consultations at both the Waukon and Postville clinic locations and offers medication management for all mental illnesses.
“Helping people, bottom line, is the biggest reason that I chose a career in mental health. After a history with my own mental health struggles, it was difficult to find good support in rural Iowa and I vowed to help change this for others in this community who are struggling. I have an interest in helping people in their efforts to achieve psychological resilience and self-actualization,” explains Tara. “I am seeing all patients of all ages and we accept all insurances.”
In your first appointment with Tara, she will conduct roughly an hour-long assessment to formulate a diagnosis after which you will receive psychoeducation and treatment options including suggestions for natural treatments and lifestyle changes as well as prescribed medication, when needed.
Patients can self-refer to the clinic by calling either the Postville or Waukon location to set up their first appointment.
Tara works with all ages, young to old. The following is an anonymous testimonial from parents whose children have seen great benefit in meeting with Tara. “My husband and I are so thankful that Tara is here at the VMH Clinic caring for two of our young daughters in our own community. Our daughters were already familiar with the Clinic atmosphere as they see Halie Ruff, NP as their Primary Care Provider. It’s nice to know that Halie is kept updated on our girls’ treatment and vise versa with Tara. From the very beginning both of our girls felt comfortable speaking with Tara and explaining how their anxiety was affecting them emotionally and how it was affecting their school work. They always look forward to their next visit with Tara and appreciate that she lets them have a say in their care on next steps, even though they are children.”
Tara Fink is available to see patients at both the Veterans Memorial Hospital Postville and Waukon clinics. To make an appointment to see Tara in Postville, call 563-864-7221, or in Waukon call 563-568-5530.
