This November, voters in Delaware and Morrow Counties have an important opportunity to maintain the behavioral health services our communities rely on.
The Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board levy helps ensure a crucial local safety-net of services for children, families, veterans, seniors, first responders, and others who may find themselves in a mental health crisis.
These services help real people — youth struggling with depression or self-harm, parents seeking help for a child in crisis, domestic violence victims and their kids seeking safety, and those who need access to care close to home.
As someone who worked for decades in both Delaware & Morrow Counties with those considering suicide, experiencing severe emotional crisis, and in desperate need of help, I witnessed every single day how essential it is for people in our counties to have somewhere to turn when they are struggling.
When in the midst of these life difficulties, knowing help is available nearby and easily accessible can bring hope and helping to someone who may feel overwhelmed, confused, often frightened, and alone.
Behind every mental health & recovery service provided in our community is a person, a family, and a very personal story — and having someone there to answer a phone call 24/7, reach out, or otherwise be on the spot to help them take that next step can change a life and even save that life.
A behavioral health crisis can happen to anyone. And when there is a crisis, trained, qualified, and caring people need to continue to be there to reassure, support, and help them find their way back.
If approved, the levy will cost $4.17 per month for every $100,000 of appraised home value.
I absolutely believe that is a worthwhile investment in the health, safety, and well-being of of our families, neighbors, co-workers, children, veterans, seniors, first responders and so many others.
Please join me in voting YES for the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board levy on Nov. 3.
Sue Hanson
Delaware, Ohio