Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Kevin Store, executive director of the Keweenaw Health Foundation, discusses mental health services in the area during Wednesday’s Houghton City Council meeting.

HOUGHTON — The Houghton City Council will not create a mental health subcommittee, but endorsed making the issue more prominent at future council meetings.

The decision on the subcommittee came after an extensive discussion at Wednesday’s meeting, including guest Kevin Store, executive director of the Portage Health Foundation. Councilor Brian Irizarry had suggested the creation of a mental health subcommittee at a previous council meeting.

Store gave an overview of the area’s mental health resources, and some of the obstacles in the way of providing service. He began by asking the council what question they were trying to answer. Councilor Joan Suits asked what else the city could be doing, noting the work of the police department.

Store praised the work Houghton had done in training its police force on mental health issues, also including related issues such as dedicating an officer to community policing and working with Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET) West. The city has also partnered with local agencies such as Dial Help.

“Some of the things the city is doing is right on the mark, and their partnership with other community organizations is appropriate,” Store said. “In addition, I know the city has also provided funding support to some of those organizations, and that’s critically important … “

Local organizations are working hard to serve the population, Store said. But at the state and federal level, Store said, not enough funding is provided for the organizations on the ground like Dial Help or Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly to provide the level of service the community demands.

About 80% of the Copper Country Mental Health population is served by Medicaid, Store said. “Unless you are a severe threat to yourself or others, or you’re a Medicaid patient, the likelihood of receiving services through that entity is difficult,” he said. “There’s a gap in service.”

People with Blue Cross Blue Shield or willing to private pay have had trouble finding providers for their children, whether licensed counselors or psychiatrists, Store said.

The number of psychiatric providers in the country, much less the area, also falls short of demand, Store said. UP Health – Marquette increased their psychiatric inpatient unit from 40 beds to 50, but haven’t expanded their coverage to match. The reimbursement rate for psychiatric services — 31 cents on the dollar — is also inadequate, Store said.

The pandemic has added to workforce issues, Store said. It’s also created more stress on vulnerable populations. There has been a more than 20% increase in anxiety and depression among the elder community since the pandemic began, Store said. For adolescents, there’s been between 35% to 70% increase in anxiety, depression or suicidal ideation, Store said.

The PHF is partnering with several groups to work on dealing with youth trauma and resilience. Capturing Kids’ Hearts, a professional development program for educators, is already seeing “remarkable results,” Store said. In another project, PHF is working with Dial Help to identify opportunities to create different platforms for outpatient mental health services.

The challenge is recruiting and compensating providers, training them and creating a sustainable model that can be maintained for patients beyond those in Medicaid, Store said.

“There’s a number of folks that are doing that work, that are working through those issues,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s just not happening fast enough. But it is taking place.”

However, Store said, adding another body could hinder those efforts. He recalled talking with then-State Rep. Scott Dianda about state regulations that had restricted their ability to enhance substance abuse services.

“Instead of amplifying and improving services, we’re restricting it further and making it much more difficult for those agencies that are trying to work within those agencies to do that,” he said. “So I think it’s more important to be aware of those issues from a civic duty and understand that maybe than it is to have another layer of bureaucracy within the city council to address that.”

Mayor Bob Backon felt the issue might be outside the city’s jurisdiction, and asked with whom the subcommittee would meet.

Suits agreed with Store that there were better ways for the city to contribute.

“I want to do everything we can in the city to support mental health services, but I think our city manager and our police chief and staff are doing a great job,” she said. “I guess I don’t want to add another layer of bureaucracy where it may not be needed.”

After feedback from the council and Store, Irizarry rescinded his motion, and instead motioned for the council to become more involved with awareness of the local mental health situation. He suggested putting a similar conversation as an agenda item annually.

Chief John Donnelly said he would keep the issue at the forefront of his reports to the council. Suits asked Store to pass on any recommendations to Waara or Donnelly to pass on ideas anytime he sees a way for the city to contribute.

“Absolutely,” Store said. “I think you’re going to see some things here in the next several months that will hopefully start moving the needle on some of these issues related to service delivery.”

Donnelly reported on a facet of the area mental health response local departments are looking to improve. He met last week in Marquette with State Sen. Ed McBroom and Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

McBroom, R-Vulcan, has introduced a bill that would allow private security, rather than just law enforcement officers, to transport mental health patients. Houghton County Sheriff’s Office handles transport for local patients, which can often involve trips downstate if no spots are available in the Upper Peninsula.

Hertel supported the bill, Donnelly said.

“She did say too, she feels what we need is more hospitalization in the Upper Peninsula,” he said. “And that is truly what we need.”

Houghton sergeants will also undergo week-long Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, Donnelly said in his report. CIT training aims to reduce the risk of serious injury or death when police respond to emergency calls involving people with mental health issues.

In other action, the council:

— Heard from City Manager Eric Waara the first cruise ship should arrive in the area in about 90 days. The ship will be anchored near the seawall at the Kestner Waterfront Park. Tentative plans call for buses to take the cruisegoers into the city, which will have walking tours of the downtown. Waara described the cruises as senior-focused, and more of a “thinking versus drinking” cruise.

“People are looking for a genuine experience,” he said. “That’s why they’re coming here.”

— Approved a special use permit for the Keweenaw Waters Resort Boardwalk. The boardwalk is on land zoned R-1 (single-family residential). Cabins and a campground for Keweenaw Waters have already been approved.

— Approved a special use permit for Tranquility Fields, a recreational marijunana business planning to open in the former Bambu restaurant site on Ridge Road.

— Approved up to $5,000 for a used golf cart for the RV park host. The cart will replace one which was past the point of use, Waara said. The money will come from the equipment fund.