Sheriff’s deputies and sheriff’s office employees in Mahoning County will be getting one-on-one counseling services to check in on their mental health.
The department partnered with Meridian Health to sit down with deputies once a year to talk through any issues they may be facing.
“We all know the stress of the job and the things that officers have to deal with,” Sheriff Jerry Greene said. “A lot of times when it comes to getting help especially with mental health [law enforcement officers] feel like there’s a stigma…quite frankly in my eyes it’s quite the opposite. To me you’re actually on the brave side to be able to admit that something might be wrong.”
The deputies have been able to meet with a councilor voluntarily before but now all 225 employees, including sheriff Greene himself, will be required to check in.
The check-ins will be at the Mahoning Valley First Responder wellness center in Boardman, where more mental and physical services are offered to law enforcement.