BY KAREN BOSSICK

Examine “Our Path to Mental Well-Being” when neuroscientist Thomas Insel speaks Tuesday at Ketchum’s Community Library.

The free program will start at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Insel, former director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), will discuss how we need to shift from a narrow medical “sick care” approach to a broader recovery health and well-being approach by addressing three Ps: People, Place and Purpose.

The presentation is part of the ongoing effort by the Blaine County Mental Well-Being Initiative and St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation.

Insel will note how we have seen little progress in outcomes despite four decades of progress in the science of mental health. Morbidity and mortality are increasing, not decreasing, for those with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe mood and anxiety disorders and substance misuse conditions.

Tyler Norris, the chair of the Blaine County Mental Well-Being Initiative, will engage Insel as the two men discuss the crisis of care, the need for high touch as well as high tech and other solutions that can make a difference.

Insel served as director of the National Institute of Mental Health from 2002-2015. Since 2017 he has co-founded four mental health start-ups. He is the author of “Healing Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health.”

To see the program in person, RSVP at https://thecommunitylibrary.libcal.com/event/13626076. The program also will be livestreamed and available to watch later at https://vimeo.com/event/4813222.