T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Executive Director of the Mental Health and Recovery Board Lisa Ward poses with the proclamation declaring May Mental Health Awareness Month alongside Belmont County Commissioners Josh Meyer, from left, J.P. Dutton and Jerry Echemann.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County commissioners declared May as Mental Health Awareness Month on Wednesday.

Executive Director of the Mental Health and Recovery Board Lisa Ward was in attendance for the proclamation.

“Every year we try to do more for the community to recognize that we need to talk about mental health challenges because they’re common and they’re treatable and manageable,” she said.

On Monday evening, the Mental Health and Recovery Board held an event at the Ohio University Eastern campus. The event had a guest speaker, Kevin Hines, who is a national speaker on suicide prevention. Hines is one of 36 survivors who jumped off of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. Hines has since become one of the leading advocates for placing nets up around large bridges throughout the country.

“He just rocked the house, 200 people registered and 85 people showed up but there wasn’t one person that didn’t leave there saying, ‘Wow this was amazing,'” Ward said.

She praised Hines, saying, “He tells his story and gets the audience involved and makes it just a very hope-filled experience.”

Belmont County Board of Commissioners President Jerry Echemann asked Ward what she believes is a contributing factor to the increased need for mental health resources. Ward responded that there has been a lot of discussion on whether the rise could be from the years impacted by COVID-19.

“There is so much going on in the world right now with current events and the exposure our youth has through social media and Tik-Tok,” she said.

She noted that a recent study showed that 58% of Americans who were surveyed feel that they are lonely.

Echemann then proceeded to read the proclamation declaring May to be Mental Health Awareness Month. The Proclamation states: “1 in 5 American Adults experiences a mental health condition each year, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. Despite its prevalence, mental health remains shrouded in stigma preventing many from seeking help.”

In recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services is encouraging increased public awareness and usage of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

“Just like 911 is synonymous with help for a police, fire, or medical emergency, our goal is to promote 988 as the go-to resource for immediate support during an emotional crisis,” Ohio Department of Mental Health Director LeeAnne Cornyn said in a release.

Ohio 988 is a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health related distress, and functions as a front door to the community crisis system Ohio has been working hard to implement under Gov. Mike DeWine’s leadership.

“988 is simple to remember and is a resource for Ohioans that not only helps people during tough times, it saves lives,” Ohio’s 988 Administrator Doug Jackson said.