'You're not alone.' Support for mental health struggles a call or text away. |Opinion
Michelle Vargas is director of the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition.
Some people struggle with mental health challenges without even realizing it.
With work, school and family obligations, it is not unusual to prioritize other commitments and family needs over self-care, individual mental health, and wellness.
It is important to remember that is okay to ask for help.
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If you’re struggling, you’re not alone, and you don’t need to try figure it out all by yourself. There’s a large network of professionals that want to support you in getting onto a path toward thriving.
The Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition, which is hosted by Mental Health America of Ohio and funded by the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County, works to decrease stigma and increase awareness of mental health resources and programming.
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According to the 2021 Suicide Data Brief recently released by the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, the suicide rate in Franklin County increased by 10% in 2021 compared to 2020. The suicide rate among the Black community increased by 17% and the rate among the Hispanic and Latino community increased by 5%.
Call or text Mental Health America of Ohio’s Get Connected program to speak with a trained professional who will link you with mental health providers and resources, regardless of insurance status. This includes connecting with telehealth providers, which can help remove obstacles such as lack of time or transportation.
Mental Health America of Ohio also offers support groups for a variety of mental health challenges including anxiety and depression.
ADAMH also offers a directory of more than 30 community-based mental health and addiction services, and you can search for specific types of programs using helpful filters.
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If you’d like to learn how to recognize and respond to a mental health crisis in others, sign up for one of Mental Health America of Ohio's upcoming Mental Health First Aid classes. This evidence-based program teaches a five-step action plan to assess for risk of suicide, encourage professional help, and refer to support services.
By learning Mental Health First Aid, you would learn life-saving skills to help those around you. To learn about additional suicide prevention training options, visit the Franklin Couny Suicide Prevention Coalition's website.
Together we can work to prevent suicide and create a healthy future for our community.
For immediate help, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text “4hope” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.
Michelle Vargas is director of the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition.
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