Upcoming events discussed by Harrison Wellness Coalition
Recent new Health and Wellness and resources will soon be coming to Harrison County. The announcement came early last week through the County Wellness Coalition. The Director of Prevention and Student Support Wendy Ware made the announcement at the East Central Ohio Education Service Center. Ware, new to the position, became the director of the coalition with the departure of previous director Erica Schreckengost.
During the meeting, Megan Smolenak, Harrison County’s Health Commissioner provided an update to the changes in the department.
“We are expanding our physical activity program,” said Smolenak. “So obviously we do SilverSneakers, so we are extending that. Now we are contracting out to do yoga and aerobics.”
A question to Smolenak by Ware was asked in regard to the health department collecting information and statistics about overdose deaths in the county. Smolenak replied by saying that the health department doesn’t track that information.
“I think it would be good information to kind of track that, and to have those numbers so we can take a look at what’s going on, and what was going on,” Ware added. “Man Therapy is a campaign that targets men in regard to their taking care of their mental health. They can go online, and they can take assessments and it really targets men. The program is assessable through the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.”
Commissioner Amy Norris, Smolenak, and Amy Hercules formed a committee to work on the subject of Man Therapy. A targeted start date was set for some time in March. Hercules is a consultant at the Village Network.
The Director of Mental Health Recovery Board Patty Allen presented some events the board is organizing in the Ohio Valley. Mentioned also, was that on May 6, at 6 p.m. Kevin Hines will be speaking in the Ohio University Eastern’s Auditorium.
“If you don’t know who Kevin Hines is, he’s one of the few people that jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and survived,” said Allen. “He is a nationally known speaker and the event is free of charge.”
Other sessions of interest include mental health, and Recovery Board is hosting an art contest in May for Mental Health Awareness Month. The contest is open to all ages and anyone living in the counties of Belmont, Harrison, and/or Monroe. Details of the contest are still being worked on by the organization. Additional information and how to submit the artwork will be released by the Mental Health and Recovery Board in the near future.
A date for the next meeting has been set for 1 p.m. April 9 at the Puskarich Library in Cadiz. The coalition will post the identity information for anyone who wished to join the meeting virtually on Zoom through the Facebook page.
For additional information on the Harrison County Wellness Coalition visit the Facebook page or contact Ware by email at wendy.ware@ecoesc.org.
