Mayor Scott Fadness opened the breakfast at Fishers City Hall with a reference to the tragic mass shooting at a Texas Elementary School the day before, saying he was not prepared to make a political statement but that a host of solutions need to be explored and mental health is one.

Fadness had gathered a group of people involved in mental health locally for a meeting Wednesday morning, talking about the city’s mental health initiative and where it goes from here.

Fadness talked about making mental health a top priority when he was Mayor-elect in 2014 and has continued that program up to the present.  His emphasis at Wednesday’s meeting was centered on bringing the many organizations that work with mental health together with the city to take the next steps forward.

Brooke Lawson talked about the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools program she handles.  County Councilman Steve Nation, a former Hamilton County prosecutor and judge, talked about steps county government is taking in tackling mental health issues.

Monica Heltz discussed the Fishers Health Department’s role in mental health issues.  Fire Chief Steve Orusa and Police Chief Ed Gebhart each explained how first responders do their best to identify and handle mental health issues when they arise.

There were state officials and mental health professionals there.  It was a large panel addressing where mental health moves forward.

The mayor posed the most important questions in moving to the next phase of the Mental Health Initiative.

“Do we really understand where the mental health challenges are originating in our community?,” Fadness asked those assembled.  “Are there public policy levers that can be pulled to prevent them?”

That is part of the next phase of challenges for Fishers and mental health.