TL Photo/KAILEY CARPINO Wendy Ware, director of prevention and student support for East Central Ohio Educational Services Center, talks about the launch of the “Man Therapy” campaign in Harrison, Belmont and Monroe counties.
CADIZ — The Harrison County Wellness Coalition recently learned about new health and wellness events and resources coming to the county.
The conference was hosted by Wendy Ware, director of prevention and student support for the East Central Ohio Educational Services Center. Ware took over as the conference's coalition coordinator following the recent resignation of former coordinator Erika Schreckengost.
Mr. Ware has 30 years of experience in the prevention field and said he is excited to work with the coalition.
Megan Smolenak, health commissioner for the Harrison County Health Department, provided an update on the department's changes.
“We're expanding our physical activity program. Obviously we're doing SilverSneakers, but we're expanding on that. We're now doing yoga and aerobics.” she said.
Smolenak said the new program will be conducted during off-duty hours and will not be implemented by health department employees. The Department of Health will announce more details once the program is up and running.
The health department can be reached at 740-942-2616.
Ware asked Smolenak if the health department collects information and statistics on overdose deaths in the county. Smolenak said the health department does not keep that information.
“I think it would be good information to have those numbers so we can track it and find out what's going on and what's going on.” Mr. Ware said.
Harrison County Commissioner Amy Norris provided Ware with contact information for Harrison County Coroner Porsche Beetham, who may have that information.
Mr. Ware also “Man therapy” Campaigns in Harrison, Belmont and Monroe Counties.
“Man Therapy is a campaign that targets men's mental health and mental health care. They can go online and get an assessment, and it's really targeted at men.” Mr. Ware said.
He said the campaign is being run through the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, which has given him permission to use videos, images and slogans in the campaign.
“Men are generally a high-risk group.” Mr. Ware said.
She said the goal of Man Therapy is to normalize receiving mental health support and connecting men to other resources and services.
Ware said he wants to start making paper drink coasters for local bars, country clubs and other places where large groups of men gather. She said the coaster features a message encouraging men to look at mental health resources online.
Ware added that he wants local men to visit mantherapy.org for help with their mental health care.
Smolenak, Norris and Village Network consultant Amy Hercules formed a committee to work on the Man Therapy campaign. They hope to launch the campaign in March.
Patti Allen, director of the Mental Health and Recovery Commission, spoke about several events the commission is organizing in the Ohio Valley. She said Kevin Hines will speak at the Ohio University Eastern College auditorium on May 6 at 6 p.m.
“For those of you who don't know who Kevin Hines is, he's one of the few people who jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and survived. He's a nationally known speaker.” Allen said.
She said the event is free to attend.
Allen also said the Mental Health and Recovery Committee will host an art contest in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month in May. This contest is open to anyone of any age who resides in Belmont, Harrison, or Monroe Counties.
She said the organization is still working to finalize the details of the contest. Further information and instructions on how to submit artwork will be announced soon by the Mental Health and Recovery Committee.
The next meeting will be held on April 9th at 1:00 pm at the Puskalic Public Library in Cadiz. You can also join the meeting virtually on Zoom. The coalition plans to post the ID needed to participate in Zoom meetings on its Facebook page.
The Harrison County Health Coalition typically meets on the second Tuesday of every other month at 1 p.m. in a conference room in the basement of the library.
For more information, visit the Harrison County Wellness Coalition Facebook page or contact Ware by email at wendy.ware@ecoesc.org.
