“Healing is a Full-Time Job”
Content warning: sexual violence/abuse, rape, suicide For as far back as Emma can remember, she experienced sexual abuse. She explains that these encounters were so numerous throughout her childhood that she never kept count. This experience and years of survival mode shaped the way she approached everything as an adult. “Many times you hear of ‘stranger […]
MHAOhio’s Family Advocate Program Offers Support for Families
Mental illness doesn’t only affect the person who has it. It can affect everyone around them. Friends and family members might not understand what their loved one is going through, why they are acting a certain way, or what they can do to help or support them. MHAOhio’s Family Advocate Program provides support and resources […]
Suicide Prevention Training Offers Awareness, Resources and Hope
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a report showing an increase in deaths by suicide in 2021, compared with the previous four years. The report indicated there was an increase in suicide rates among American Indian/Alaska Natives, Black Americans, and Hispanic Americans, and individuals between the ages of 25 and 44. Michelle Vargas, Director […]
The Mental Health and Disability Terminology Act
The passage of House Bill 281, The Mental Health and Disability Terminology Act, means we are one step closer to defeating the stigma surrounding people with mental illness and developmental disabilities. We applaud the efforts of Rep. Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, and Rep. Tom Young, R-Washington Township. MHAOhio was proud to be part of the coalition of organizations […]
2021 Year in Review
As we approach the two-year mark of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, MHAOhio has continued to be a leader on mental health. We’ve come alongside individuals and families when they need help, fostered growth and healing inside our communities, and advocated for improved access and affordability for mental health services. To protect against COVID-19, many of […]
2022 Norman Guitry Award Winner
Honoring the 2022 winner: Duane Casares, Directions for Youth and Families Every year, MHAOhio awards one exceptional individual the prestigious Norman Guitry Award, named after our founder and first executive director. The award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the community in the area of mental health. This year, we are […]
2022 Year in Review
As we near the end of 2022, we reflect on the growth of each of our programs, the opportunities that have been created, and the impact we’ve been able to have on the communities we serve. We look forward to continued growth of these programs under the direction and leadership of our new Executive Director, […]
2023 Holiday Magic Recap
On December 6, MHAOhio welcomed over 100 guests to our 65th Annual Holiday Magic volunteer recognition event. We were honored to recognize and thank our volunteers, supporters, and partners who donated their time and talents to others. The MHAOhio team is excited to share the 2023 award recipients who were presented with the following […]
2023 Year in Review
As we near the end of 2023, we reflect on the growth of each of our programs, the opportunities that have been created, and the impact we’ve been able to have on the communities we serve. We look forward to continued growth of these programs under the direction and leadership of our new Executive Director, […]
Addressing the Disparities in Mental Health Care for the AAPI Community
Dr. Cora Munoz is the President of the Ohio Asian American Health Coalition and the President of the Asian Festival Corporation in Columbus. After many years in healthcare, she now dedicates her time to improving health inequities for the vibrant Asian community in Central Ohio. “The Asian community in Columbus and throughout the state is not very large […]
