Mahoning County Mental Health & Recovery Board

09/10/2026

Su***de is real. It's also preventable. Here in Mahoning County there are many resources available to anyone who needs them, starting with 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. If you have lost someone to su***de, there are local support groups as well as the Mahoning County L.O.S.S. Team to help you navigate the complex feelings that come from a su***de death.

On World Su***de Prevention and Awareness Day, the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board highlighted local resources and noted that half of the area’s recent su***des occurred amon…

09/10/2026

A meaningful recognition for su***de prevention in Mahoning County. 💙 Today, the Mahoning County Mental Health & Recovery Board was honored to receive a proclamation from the Mahoning County Commissioners recognizing World Su***de Prevention Day.

This proclamation is more than a recognition—it’s a reminder of the importance of coming together as a community to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support those who are struggling, and remember the lives we have lost to su***de.

We are grateful to our Commissioners for recognizing the importance of this work and standing alongside us in our mission to prevent su***de and connect our community with hope and support.

Together, we can keep the conversation going, encourage people to reach out, and remind those who are struggling that they are not alone and their life matters. 💙

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09/10/2026

World Su***de Prevention Day is a reminder that every life matters—and every story matters. 💙

Today, we remember and honor the people we have lost to su***de and hold space for the families, friends, and communities left behind. Su***de doesn’t affect just one person. As shared in this powerful message, every su***de death affects an estimated 135 people.

In 2024, Mahoning County experienced 56 su***de deaths. That means an estimated 7,560 people right here in our community were impacted by su***de. Behind that number are parents, siblings, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and loved ones whose lives were changed forever.

But today is also about hope and action. 💙

It’s about recognizing the people who may be struggling silently, checking in, starting the conversation, and reminding someone that they don't have to carry it alone. It’s about creating a community where speaking openly about mental health and sharing our stories is met with compassion—not stigma or judgment.

If you have experienced su***de loss or struggled yourself, your story has the power to bring awareness, connection, and hope to someone who may need it.

Our mission is to prevent another su***de.
Because life is better with you in it.

📱 Call, text, or chat 988 to connect with the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.

Today, we remember those we've lost.
Today, we stand with those who are struggling.
Today, we choose to speak up, reach out, and keep hope alive. 💙

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09/08/2026

Today is , a day dedicated to raising awareness of the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline and making sure our community knows that support is available when it’s needed.

You don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable to reach out. Whether you’re struggling with your mental health, feeling overwhelmed, navigating a difficult moment, worried about a loved one, or simply need someone to listen—your reason is reason enough.

📱 Call or text 988 anytime, 24/7, to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

At the Mahoning County Mental Health & Recovery Board, we believe that connecting people with support can make a difference—and knowing where to turn is an important first step.

Today, help us spread the message:
Help is always just 3 digits away.
988. Your reason is reason enough. 💙

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09/04/2026

Make sure you stop in to see our team in the Medical Building at the 180th Canfield Fair. Whether you're looking for some information or just a spot to drink your lemonade, we'll be there!

09/03/2026

Recovery doesn't have to happen alone. 💙 For National Recovery Month, we're beginning with a simple but powerful reminder: recovery grows through connection.

When people have supportive relationships, access to resources, meaningful work, safe housing, peer support, family, and a community that believes in them, they have more opportunities to build lives rooted in hope and purpose.

Recovery is not the responsibility of one person or one organization. It takes a community working together—behavioral health providers, families, employers, schools, faith communities, peer support, recovery programs, and organizations all have a role to play.

At the Mahoning County Mental Health & Recovery Board, we believe that connecting people to the right support at the right time can make a meaningful difference.

Addiction thrives in isolation. Recovery grows through connection. 💙

This month, let's look beyond the challenges and recognize the people, partnerships, and communities helping recovery happen every day across Mahoning County.

Every connection matters. Every partnership strengthens recovery. Every person deserves a path forward.
Learn more about National Recovery Month and recovery resources through SAMHSA at:
https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/recovery

📲 Follow along throughout September as we celebrate recovery, share resources, challenge stigma, and highlight the many pathways to healing in our community.

09/01/2026

Our mission is rooted in hope, connection, and community. 💙

Our mission is to support and improve the quality of life for residents of Mahoning County by instilling hope through accessible mental health and recovery services, and by promoting prevention, education, and advocacy.

From mental health and su***de prevention to recovery, education, and community resources, we’re here to help connect our community with the support they need—because no one should have to navigate their mental health journey alone.

Follow along with us as we work alongside our community to:
🧠 Promote mental health & wellness
💙 Break down stigma
🫶 Support su***de prevention
🌱 Champion recovery
📚 Share education & resources
🤝 Connect people with help

Together, we can build a healthier, more hopeful Mahoning County. Follow us and be part of the conversation. 💙

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08/31/2026

When gambling starts affecting your life, it may be more than just a game. 🎰

Problem gambling occurs when someone continues to gamble despite negative consequences to their finances, relationships, work, or overall well-being. Gambling can include casinos, slot machines, scratch-offs, sports betting, and more—and like other addictive behaviors, it can activate the brain’s reward system and become difficult to control.

SOME WARNING SIGNS INCLUDE:
🚩 Feeling restless or irritable when trying to stop
🚩 Trying to hide how much you gamble
🚩 Gambling with increasing amounts of money
🚩 Repeatedly trying and failing to stop
🚩 Gambling when stressed or using it to cope
🚩 Chasing losses by gambling more to try to win money back
🚩 Lying about gambling
🚩 Putting relationships, work, or responsibilities at risk
🚩 Experiencing financial problems because of gambling
🚩 Relying on family or friends for financial help

Anyone who gambles can develop a gambling problem. Recognizing the signs in yourself or someone you care about is an important first step—and reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness. 💙

Meridian Healthcare offers resources and support for individuals experiencing problem gambling and other behavioral health challenges.

🔗 Learn more and find resources through Meridian Healthcare: https://meridianhealthcare.net/patient-care/addiction-help/gambling-addiction-information-treatment-program/

📞 If you or someone you know is struggling with problem gambling, call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966.

You don't have to navigate it alone. Help is available, and recovery is possible. 💙

🔎 Wondering if gambling may be becoming a problem for you? Take a quick self-assessment:
https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/gambling/?layout=actions_c

Awareness can be the first step toward change. Support is available, and recovery is possible. 💙

08/30/2026

Today, on Grief Awareness Day, we hold space for everyone carrying the weight of losing someone they love—whether to su***de, addiction, illness, or any other loss.

To the survivor of su***de loss, the family member grieving someone lost to addiction, or anyone quietly learning how to live with an empty space where someone once was: your grief is valid. Your love is still here. And you do not have to carry it alone.

Some days may feel heavy. Some may bring unexpected memories, tears, anger, and more. There is no “right” way to grieve. Healing doesn't mean forgetting—it means learning to carry the love alongside the loss, one day at a time. 🕊️

Be gentle with yourself today. Reach out. Talk about them. Say their name. Let someone sit with you in the hard moments. And remember that asking for support is not a sign of weakness—it is an act of courage.

For anyone struggling with grief, mental health, or thoughts of su***de, help is available. Call or text 988 to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. 💙

You are here. You are loved. And you don't have to walk through this alone.

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08/27/2026

WKBN is shining a light on an important event happening in our community for International Overdose Awareness Day. 💜 International Overdose Awareness Day is a time to remember the lives lost, support those who are grieving, reduce stigma, and remind our community that recovery is possible.

This Thursday, Mahoning County will come together for an Overdose Awareness Day event at First Unitarian Universalist Church in Youngstown. The evening will include community resources, health screenings, free Narcan training and distribution, harm reduction education, recovery stories, and a candlelight vigil honoring those lost to overdose. Luminarias will also be available for anyone who would like to remember a loved one.

Since last August, 76 drug-related deaths have occurred in Mahoning County. Behind every number is a person, a family, and a story that matters.

Join us in creating a space for remembrance without stigma, shame, or judgment—while sharing resources, education, and hope with those who need it.

📅 Thursday, August 27
⏰ 6–9 PM | Speakers begin at 8 PM
📍 First Unitarian Universalist Church | 1105 Elm St., Youngstown

💜 Recovery happens. Hope is here. And together, we can make a difference.

Read the full WKBN article and learn more about this important community event:

OhioCAN is scheduled to host its 12th International Overdose Awareness Day event this Thursday at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Youngstown to provide resources, training, and a memoria…