A Lima mother is continuing her efforts to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention through the Dear Nicholas Foundation. The organization’s upcoming Bow Tie Event will raise money to support mental health services in Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties.
Community members gathered in Lima to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month with a campaign encouraging people to wear green and spark conversations. Organizers say the effort aims to reduce stigma and connect individuals with mental health resources.
Local nonprofits had the opportunity to pitch their programs in hopes of securing grant funding, with this year’s focus on youth mental health. Activate Allen County and the Mental Health Board of Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin counties, along with several sponsors, provided funding for the top three organizations, which were selected by audience members.
The formation of the “Emergency Response Mental Health Collaborative” was announced today at Mayor David Berger’s weekly news briefing. It will enable first responders to call out a crisis counselor to respond on scene to assist in situations where a person is showing mental health needs. This is a growing issue with calls for service that the Lima Police Department and EMS responders are facing. By having a mental health professional there on-site many situations could be handled without further issues.
