MANSFIELD — The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Richland County held an Evening of Hope at the Ohio State Reformatory on March 23.
The goal of the event was to raise awareness and educate on the importance of mental health treatment and avoiding incarceration for mentally ill persons.
The keynote speaker was Pete Earley, author of “Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness” who shared about his own son’s illness and the difficulty getting him mental health care. The primary sponsor of the event was NAMI Ohio who provided a grant for the program.
NAMI Richland County thanked the local Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board and all of the Mental Health Providers for all the treatment beds and services we do have here in Richland County.
Three special awards were given out during the evening.
The Officer Brian Evans Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Award was given to Captain Christopher Blunk, administrator of the Richland County Jail, for his willingness to understand inmates with mental illness and work with Catalyst Life Services and the Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board to provide mental health services to the jail.
The Excellence in Clinical Service Award was given to David Krenrick, currently working at Providers for Healthy Living, who has worked for over 30 years helping individuals with mental illness and their families.
The Lifetime Mental Health Service Award was given to Jim Kulig in grateful appreciation for his outstanding service, dedication and long term commitment to helping the children and families of Richland County.
