News briefs: May is National Mental Health Awareness Month

Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
·2 min read

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month

LANCASTER — Each year thousands of Fairfield County residents face the reality of living with mental health conditions. While many can link to services and receive support from those around them, often there are people who fall through the cracks. National Mental Health Awareness Month offers a chance for our community to increase awareness of mental health conditions and provides an opportunity for all of us to fight stigma.

According to the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment completed by Fairfield Medical Center, 22% of Fairfield County residents have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder and 20% have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Over the last two years individuals from every walk of life have faced extreme challenges in dealing with all that the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it. This difficult time will have made those individuals and many more prone to mental health risk. As results for the Fairfield County Health Department’s Community Health Assessment for 2022 start to come in, we will get a clearer picture of where we stand in Fairfield County when it comes to mental health.

If you or a loved one struggle with mental health symptoms here are some tips that can help from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness):

  • Deep Breathing

  • Breathe in for 5 seconds

  • Hold the breath for 3 seconds

  • Breathe out for 7 seconds

  • Exercise Daily

  • Eat Well

  • Get Enough Sleep

  • Avoid Alcohol and Drugs

  • Practice Relaxation Exercises

  • Notice the Positive

  • Gather Strength from Others

Contact any of the following locations if you or a loved one needs support.

  • Fairfield County ADAMH Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 740.687.8255 or text 4hope to 741741

  • Fairfield Client Navigator: (740) 475-0415 or toll-free (855) 281-5726

  • Mental Health America of Ohio: 614.221.1441

  • Fairfield County 2-1-1: Dial 2.1.1

  • Fairfield Center of Hope: 740.654.0477

  • The Lighthouse Domestic Violence Shelter of Fairfield County, Ohio: 740.687.4423

  • Mid-Ohio Psychological Services, Inc.: 740.687.0042

  • New Horizons Mental Health Services: 740.277.6733

  • The Recovery Center: 740.687.4500

  • OhioGuidestone: 844.622.5564

  • Lancaster Recovery Services: 740.477.1745

Meetings

The Amanda Trustees will be holding a special meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, at 8000 Cincinnati Zanesville Road to discuss the purchase of new fire equipment.

The Walnut Township Local School Board of Education will hold a special board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, in the Laker Learning Center. The meeting is called to amend the accounting clerk position from four to six hours and an executive session to consider the employment and compensation of a public employee or official.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: News briefs: May is National Mental Health Awareness Month