Mental health highlighted in Shelby community during presentation

Mental health awareness and highlighting available resources and services are a focus for Shelby's municipal government as the month continues.

Mayor Steve Schag has proclaimed May 2022 as Mental Health Month in Shelby.

"As the mayor I also call upon the citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses and schools in Shelby to recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health, the steps our citizens can take to protect their mental health and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental health conditions," Schag said in his proclamation presented recently at City Council.

A special guest at the meeting was Joe Trolian, executive director of the Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. Trolian detailed outreach efforts involving Shelby, its schools and work around the county.

"We see a lot of struggles in the school systems," Trolian said in remarks to Shelby City Council, "with COVID, people being on remote learning, now getting back to school when our (some) youth have been out of school for almost a year and a half and really had some difficulty adjusting."

Work is continuing to get more services out to people in Richland County and remove barriers including during an ongoing opioid epidemic, council was told.

"We are also dealing with a very, very serious suicide epidemic," Trolian said of Richland County. "Just since September we have lost 25 people to suicide. Our typical average year is 16 people. We've lost 25 in less than half a year. So please talk to people."

This is another reason why officials are trying to promote accessing a helpline, he said.

"We have the urgent care that is available. People do not have to make an appointment in order to get in for services," Trolian said. "We are looking at adding crisis services to that so you don't have to just go to the emergency room. Yes if you are thinking of hurting yourself, or you've taken that action, please go to the emergency room. But those people who are really struggling, having some serious stuff that they haven't acted yet, you can utilize urgent care..."

The theme for mental health month in Richland County is "Local Help for Local Hope."

In his proclamation, Schag detailed that the behavioral health system in Richland County provided help to 8,579 Richland County residents in