Let’s just address the elephant in the room. Mental health and suicide prevention are a rarely spoken about subject, until it’s a necessity. The unfortunate note is that once it’s a necessity- we may already be in danger.
This year our county has suffered significant loss in this area. But the reality is, this is not the first tough year. This is not the first year that one of our schools have struggled through the hardship of counseling and educating our youth in the aftermath of tragedy. This is not the first year that parents and families have had difficulty finding answers. This is not the first year that we, as a community, have felt disheartened by loss.
So why aren’t we talking about it?
Mental health does not have a “face”. It does not come with a simple, generic diagnosis. Mental health is a full gamut of emotions, not singular depression. Mental health looks like a happy, driven community member. It looks like an average person on an average day. But yes, it also looks like struggle and chaos. Our hope is that we can start to help learn how to recognize it. How to see it for the reality that it is, and most importantly, to be tolerant and non-judgmental towards it. And the first step is to start with awareness and education.
Welcome to BEL;EVE.
We are a small group of passionate community members that are dedicated to the goal of bringing mental health awareness and suicide prevention to the surface and forefront in our county. We, as well as a large percentage of you, have been affected by these concerns within our homes, our families, and in our hearts. Paulding County is a close-knit community. We laugh, grieve, and grow together. So, let’s begin to learn together.
In speaking with people throughout our county, one of the most common reasons for not talking about mental health is due to the stigma that comes with it. Let me assure you: you, your family member, your friend is not alone. Feeling depressed, sad, overwhelmed, bullied, scared, unsettled; is more normal that not. There are statistics to support that statement. But who’s reading statistics? And would we even know where to find them? There are resources within our community. We want to not only bring them to a better light, but also to help you locate them, navigate them, and work towards building out further resources as well. There are options for any person that is feeling overwhelmed. We want to find a space to talk with you and let you feel safe and accepted.
These actions take time, funding, and heart, and we’re ready to push forward, but we need your support. The recent tragedies that have brought this issue into the light are real. They have been real and significant for decades or longer, and it’s time to take action.
BEL;EVE will be hosting an event on November 27th at the Paulding Eagles beginning at 5PM. Live music presented by Ed Paul Fry and Rapid Fire, a silent auction, raffles, and a baked goods will be a few of the draws for the entire community. We will also have speakers from NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, as well as many local allies with resource information that will be available. A candle-light vigil will be held beginning at 6PM. Luminary for this will be available onsite.
This event is the first stepping-stone of what we hope will be a county wide action to develop and implement improvement in how we view, recognize, and work with mental health and suicide prevention in Paulding County. We hope to see you there!
Please contact Lisa @ 419-506-1426, Beckie @ 419-670-3027, or Jillene @ 419-769-5504 for further information.
