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FaithNet IU School of Public Health–Bloomington

Co-Creating FaithNet: A Community Nurse's Vision

Amy Todd, Registered Nurse, Faith Community Nurse, and Former FaithNet Project Manager

About Amy Todd

Amy Todd is a registered nurse, faith community nurse for St. John's Catholic Church in Loogootee, and assistant professor of nursing at Vincennes University Jasper Campus. As one of the co-creators of FaithNet, Amy played a pivotal role in bringing emergency mental health services to Martin County.

Amy's journey with FaithNet began when she noticed an alarming increase in suicides in Martin County and surrounding areas. Through her work as a faith community nurse, she encountered countless individuals struggling with depression and anxiety who felt they had to hide their mental health challenges from family members due to stigma and misconceptions.

Key Highlights

Breaking Down Stigma

"Your brain's an organ, no different than your pancreas. And if you treat your pancreas for diabetes, why aren't you treating your brain and your mind?"

Meeting People Where They Are

"People went into health clinics for vaccines, for allergy shots, for weight checks. So why couldn't they go in with mental health? Nobody else knew why they were there."

Created for People, Not Profit

"It's not created for dollars in my mind. It's created for the people. When we close it off to all the people, then not only does the mindset change about the program and what it's there for, but it makes it less accessible."

Want to Learn More?

Watch the full interview to hear Amy's complete story, including powerful success stories, insights on overcoming rural mental health stigma, and her vision for FaithNet's future.

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