Summit County’s new initiative to change attitudes toward mental health is the first such countywide effort nationwide and the first to involve faith-based leaders, the founder of Change Direction said Friday.
Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, who started the national program last year, was a guest speaker at Change Direction Summit County’s kickoff event, “Bringing Mental Health to Main Street.”
The event, held at Lock 3 in downtown Akron, featured testimonials from those dealing with mental health issues, informational booths, food trucks and the reading of a letter from first lady Michelle Obama praising the county for undertaking the effort.
County Executive Russ Pry had announced the initiative during his State of the County speech earlier this year.
The goal is to raise awareness about mental health, urge people to recognize the five signs of a potential problem and encourage people to reach out to those suffering.
“If we all do that and start talking more openly about something that affects all of us, fewer people will suffer and eventually we’ll start to see a change,” Van Dahlen said.
She noted that many communities and even a state, New Hampshire, have started Change Direction programs, but Summit is the first county. It’s also the first effort to involve faith-based leaders, she said.
The faith community will talk about mental health at services this weekend.
One out of every five people, an estimated 42 million Americans, struggle with some mental health condition, experts say.
Jerry Craig, executive director of Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services, revealed his family has been touched by both suicide and schizophrenia.
He implored those attending the event to be ambassadors.
Other speakers included U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Director Tracy Plouck and 16-year-old Eric Walton, who has bipolar disorder.
Eric shared his story of dealing with medications that didn’t work, trying to commit suicide and his recovery.
He praised everyone who spoke Friday “for having the courage to step up and share their stories. I know firsthand how difficult it can be, especially when it’s in a community of people you know.”
The local Change Direction effort will continue Saturday when volunteers will visit the WKDD Kidz Day at Boettler Park in Green, the Akron Arts Expo at Hardesty Park in Akron and the Natatorium in Cuyahoga Falls to share information about mental health from 8 to 11 a.m.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.