what's troubling us?
Mental illness has become a terrifying scourge here in America. The mass shootings are perhaps the most horrifying consequences of this, but we see it in so much other violence, drug and alcohol addiction, depression, anxiety, etc. We see it in the homeless living on our riverbanks and streets. We see it in so many of those in jail or prison. Clearly, as a society, we are not doing a good job of treating and assisting those suffering from mental illness.
We have to do better. I am not claiming that I have the solutions necessary to assist and treat those suffering from mental illness, but I am convinced we have to do much, much better. This will include efforts on national, state, and local levels, in our schools and training for our first responders.
—Fr. Mike Comer
We have to do better. I am not claiming that I have the solutions necessary to assist and treat those suffering from mental illness, but I am convinced we have to do much, much better. This will include efforts on national, state, and local levels, in our schools and training for our first responders.
—Fr. Mike Comer
Mental Health Resources
Research shows one in four people experience some sort of mental health issue in his or her lifetime and one in 17 people live with a serious mental illness that impairs his or her ability to perform daily tasks. If you or a family member are experiencing mental illness, here are some local resources that could be of help.
For Families and Individuals
The Cincinnati Children's Behavioral Health Institute offers a variety of outpatient and residential programs for families struggling with mental health issues.
Catholic Charities in Covington, KY, provides individual, child, family and marriage counseling to help with mental and emotional distress.
MindPeace works together with community partners to continue the development and implementation of a seamless system of mental health support for children and adolescents, with a focus on school-based, stakeholder-selected partnerships.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI NKY provides support, education, and advocacy for those who live with mental illness and their families, friends, and caregivers within the eight-county Northern Kentucky region.
For Veterans
The US Department of Veterans Affairs supports veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Of the 1.1 million veterans living with a substance disorder, 25% have struggled with illicit drugs, while 80% struggled with alcohol abuse. About 7% of the 1.1 million veterans struggle with both.
VA has a variety of mental health resources, information, treatment options, and more—all accessible to veterans, veterans’ supporters, and the general public.
For First Responders
The mission of the Tri-State First Responder Peer Support Team is to effectively recognize and respond to another first-responder or family member who is experiencing emotional or physical symptoms from exposure to acute or chronic high stress incidents. The Tri-State First Responder Peer Support Team will respond by listening, referring and supporting those in need.
This NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) website has a list of most major first responder resources.