From left, Lance Heath of the City of Washington Court House; Jennifer Jenkins of the Village of Octa; Melanie Swisher of the Paint Valley ADAMH Board; Myranda Vance of the Ross County Park District; and Stephanie Stewart of the City of Jeffersonville.
Courtesy photo
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board is partnering with eight area parks, preserves and pharmacies to reach those experiencing behavioral health crises through a new grant.
The ADAMH Board received the 988 Lifeline Awareness Grant through the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities and the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. The 988 Lifeline is a suicide and crisis hotline providing free and confidential assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Signage for the lifeline will be placed in common areas at partnering parks and preserves across the board’s five-county service area, which has a population of more than 234,000. The signs will inform those using local trails and parks that they can call, text or chat with 988 staff if they are in crisis.
“Spending time in nature can be a powerful way to cope with difficult emotions,” ADAMH Director Melanie Swisher said. “By partnering with our local parks and with support from OACBHA and the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, we’re making sure people know they’re not alone and that 988 is there when they need someone to talk to.”
The board also purchased 988 advertisements for local pharmacy medication bags to increase awareness among pharmacy customers.
The Paint Valley ADAMH Board credited the following partners for their involvement in the project: Arc of Appalachia, the Pickaway County Parks District, the Ross County Parks District, the Village of Jeffersonville and the City of Washington Court House, and the villages of Bloomingburg, Greenfield and Octa.
The Paint Valley ADAMH Board was established in 1967 to provide community-based alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services for residents of Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike and Ross counties.