We Make It Better

There is a commercial for BASF, a chemical company that runs with the tag line: “We don’t make the products you buy, we make the products you buy better.” I have no idea what they make but I’m glad that whatever super-secret ingredients they use quietly enhance my quality of life.

We do the same thing.

The Mental Health & Recovery Services Board does not provide counseling services, psychiatric evaluations, or crisis interventions. We can’t by law. But we do make the services you receive better. And it’s not just the traditional services that you think of: counseling at Lutheran Social Services or case management at Family Resource Centers.

We’re everywhere!

The Mental Health & Recovery Services Board is committed to being a quiet value addition to the community and the many other agencies, schools, and organizations that help our community.

Here are some examples:

Over the past five years, the Board has invested more than $100,000 in training for our agency personnel, the community, our Faith Partners, and other agencies. We’ve trained more than 140 people to be support group facilitators, we’ve trained our providers in total quality management, we’ve offered two trainings for faith communities to help people right in their congregations, we’ve done dozens of small trainings for workplaces and other organizations.

The Board also assists other organizations with designing brochures, web sites, and promotional materials for events and groups that offer help. Often, a volunteer group facilitator only needs a little “back office” support to make amazing things happen.

Take for example Barb Link, a member of Faith Partners, a graduate of our support group facilitator training, and now a Mental Health & Recovery Services Board member. Barb began a group for women who have been victims of sexual assault called “I Have a Voice.” The group has grown so large that it is now two groups. All it took from us was the training and help with the brochure.

Don’t underestimate the amount of silent support the community receives from the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board. We don’t make the services, but we make the services better. We are everywhere. We want to help. Please help us.

Phil Atkins

Support Groups Save Lives

We support wholeheartedly Eric England's request to the Lima City Schools Board to develop and put in place much needed suicide survivor support groups. Happily Lima City Schools staff participated in Board sponsored support group facilitator training in the past and are well equipped to step in and respond to this young man's request.

For the past 3 years the Mental Health and Recovery Service Board has sponsored support group facilitator training. During this time over 140 people have been trained in the community to facilitate support groups ranging from Parkinson's Disease to Suicide Recovery Support.


This investment by the Mental Health and Recovery Serivces Board identified early on the need for the community to support families, friends and neighbors as they struggle with life's challenges.


Support groups provide an ongoing care system for those facing chronic physical problems, grief issues and are particularly helpful for suicide survivors. Support groups can also be a life saving link when times get tough and a friend or family member needs more professional help.



Congratulations Eric for taking such a bold step and we look forward to supporting you and the schools in the development of these groups.



Mike Schoenhofer

Recovery - It's All About Hope - Faith Partners

This week's feature in the Lima News couldn't be more timely. One in three families is affected by alcoholism or drug addiction. The message is that recovery from addiction is possible but it takes a loving community and competent professionals.

Our community is so fortunate to have a wonderful collaboration between the faith community and the professional community called - We Care Faith Partners. This group of some 32 church communities and local mental health and addiction treatment professionals and the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board has created a powerful force for change. Reaching out to embrace families and persons suffering from the effects of addiction this small group has made a big difference in our community.

Already sober living envrionments are springing up - places where people can heal and recover from addiction. The nationally recognized author Debra Jay spoke to gatherings in Kenton and Lima as a result of Faith Partners and she stated that she was simply amazed at what Faith Partners has accomplished. On October 3, Faith Partners is sponsoring Ocksoberfest from 12:00 Noon to 9:00 PM on South Main Street in Lima - a fun filled alcohol / drug free event that celebrates the harvest time and our families. And much more is happening with children and faith communities as a result of their efforts.

Individuals Recover! Families Recover! Communities Recover!

Thanks Faith Partners from the bottom of my heart.

Mike Schoenhofer

Teen Attempts Suicide

Our hearts go out to the family of the young person who attempted to commit suicide yesterday. Our question is: "How long will we allow our Governor and State Lawmakers to ignore the needs of our families for mental health and alcohol and drug treatment services."

Tragedies grab the headlines but this needless pain and suffering experienced by our neighbors, our families, and our friends can be reduced and even eliminated by investing in treatment services that save lives.

Please stand up and stand with us as we tell Governor Strickland, Representatives Huffman, Hite, and Adams and Senator Faber that behavioral health services in our community are vital to our health and well being.

Mike Schoenhofer

Advocacy Action Alert - Postcard Campaign

The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, and the Coalition for HealthyCommunities has developed an advocacy postcard campaign to be used to keep the pressure on the Governor and legislators to fund behavioral health in the budget corrective bill later this fall.

We are asking staff, family members, human service agencies, emergency services personnel, and community residents to make a concerted effort to get as many people as possible to send postcards to Governor Strickland and their Ohio House and Senate members.

It is a bold card with a bold message: Access to recovery services is not an issue of politics. It’s not an issue of finances. It’s an issue of life and death.

Postcards will be available soon from the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. Please alert everyone you know to participate in this campaign on behalf of our loved ones and families.

Mike Schoenhofer

Youth Alcohol Consumption Very Disturbing

38% of Auglaize County youth and 34% of Allen County youth had at least one drink in the past 30 days and 69% had five or more drinks on that occasion according to Auglaize and Allen County Health Assessments recently released.

What is most disturbing are these facts about youth and drinking:

• 2 x's more likely to be in a fight
• 2 x's more likely to contemplate suicide
• 3 x's more likely to have had sexual intercourse
• 5 x's more likely to have used marijuana

Our young people are literally killing themselves and permanently damaging themselves.

A Glimmer of Hope

Last year Family Resource Centers touched the lives of over 3000 youth in programs targetted to school age children that aim to prevent alcohol and drug use, identify youth thinking about commiting suicide, and offer help to families to provide the care and nurturing environments children need to thrive.

More Hope

Last year Family resource Centers also worked with over 400 families with children under the age of 5 - intervening earlier creates a better chance that these families and children will thrive.

Our Choice

We can either help families, children and youth now when it will make the most difference or watch as families break apart, our youth damage and kill themselves and our future hope becomes bleak.

Please stand with us as we advocate for our families. The Governor's budget was wrong and if we don't speak up we have only ourselves to blame.

Treatment Works

Don't wait to get the help you deserve so that you can lead the life you were meant to live - Call 1-800-567-4673.

Mike Schoenhofer

8000 People Use Crisis Services Last Year

The numbers are staggering!

• Lutheran Social Services treated over 2100 people at the We Care Regional Crisis Center last year.
• The Hope Line spoke to over 6000 people in the same time period, and
• Lutheran's mobile crisis unit assessed 228 people at area hospitals.

That is over 8000 people.

People are seeking help and getting help from the crisis services and the information and referral services offered to the residents of our three counties by Lutheran Social Services.

If you or someone you love needs to talk to someone because of an emotional crisis, a mental illness, or a problems with addiction - I urge you to call the Hope Line today: 1-800-567-4673.

You can get the help you deserve to live the life you are meant to live!

Mike Schoenhofer