The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin Counties is encouraging everyone to wear green in support of Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health officials want people to know these are unprecedented times, that many people are suffering, grieving, and have experienced loss at a level we have never seen.

The need for mental health services is growing as more individuals are seeing early symptoms of mental illness.

The event was held by the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin County. Currently, there is a 30% shortage of Mental Health and Recovery experts in the local area. The sessions hope to deliver enough information to potential students on how they can enter the field. Colleges from the area were also on hand to inform potential students on what they can learn in their respective field, from maintaining relationships and establishing connections.

Mental Health and Recovery Services Executive Director Tammie Colon explains, “We know that competing with Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland is going to be extremely difficult. So, what we are trying to do is really look within our community knowing there is a lot of people who want to advance their career and want get into this career and they don’t know it’s affordable for them.”

“Everyone wants to push it under the rug,” said Valerie Coffey. “Nobody wants to talk about it. Everybody’s afraid of it. Until we start treating it like a regular medical condition I think it’s just going to continue and nobody’s going to reach out for help because they’re going to think that it’s so embarrassing.”

Valerie Coffey knows first-hand what it's like to lose someone to suicide. Just 12 years ago she lost her son, Scott.

Wednesday evening was full of crystals, champagne, and award winners.