Al Stenehjem said Monday that he resigned recently from the executive director post of the Mental Health Association in North Dakota to pursue other opportunities.

"I couldn't take advantage of them while working for the association," he said.

Susan Rae Helgeland, who has been serving as the association's interim executive director since Stenehjem's Jan. 31 resignation, said Stenehjem will be missed.

Helgeland, the association's regional director in Fargo prior to taking on Stenehjem's duties, said it was under Stenehjem's leadership that the association began the 211 program - a 24-hour toll-free confidential crisis intervention, information and referral service.

By dialing 211 on the telephone, the caller is connected with a crisis management specialist.

It's a statewide service for all land-line and most cellular phone users.

Currently, Verizon customers need to dial a toll-free number instead, 800-472-2911.

Journey of Hope, a support program for families with a mentally ill family member, also was started under Stenehjem's direction, she said.

"He did a lot for us," Helgeland said about Stenehjem, who had been director since November 2002.

"He was pretty much hands on all over the state."

Helgeland said her goal is to maintain the status quo until a new director is picked.

She explained that the association is in existence to "work for a world that is free from discrimination against mental illness."