Lincoln library staff undergo mental health training

Libraries are accessible to everyone in the community which means staff interact with a lot of people.

For this reason, Lincoln libraries have recently taken part in mental health care training to help prepare them.

“It makes you feel a lot better about your job,” Public Services Coordinator, Julie Beno said. “It gave me the skills I think to listen better, to be able to talk to people, to be able to respond the way people want because not everyone listens the same or ask questions the same way.”

The training is one way of using a resource from mental health experts. It recently became apparent that the libraries often had visitors who were addressing issues with mental health.

For example, maybe someone who is Bi–polar is looking for help.

“Our staff are not only ready to work with people but very well prepared to work with people and that’s the point of our seeking out this information,” Library Director, Pat Leach said.

Library staff are now able to recognize mental health issues sooner. It’s something they say is not noticeable at the start of an interaction.

“Throughout the community, questions arise to how do we work well with a certain group of people so we are really grateful that this kind of training is available for us to make the most of,” Leach said.

A majority of the staff at Bennett Martin Public Library have already taken the training. It’s an 8 hour course through Region V.

They hope every Librarian will take this type of course.

“We need to be trained, we need to be able to answer all the questions that come by,” Beno said.

There is also a youth mental health care training. If you would like to learn more, click here.