New mental health board has new website
Tom Jackson
Nov 22, 2021 4:00 PM
SANDUSKY — The new mental health and recovery board in Erie County has a new website where people can go to get help and information.
The Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board of Erie County has set up the new website at adamhserie.org.
The website provides the phone number for a crisis hotline that is available at all hours: 1-800-826-1306.
It also provides information on local providers and lists the new board’s current members and staff. Tom Tucker is the current chairman of the board, and Rob Quinn is the vice chairman. The current staff is Diane Taylor, interim executive director; Caleb Stidham, community relations coordinator, and Patty Notestine, office manager.
The website replaces the former website for the now-disbanded Mental Health and Recovery Board of Erie and Ottawa Counties.
A new Facebook page also has been set up for the ADAMHS Board of Erie County. The Facebook page is located at facebook.com/ADAMHSERIE.
A pinned post at the new Facebook site explains, “Greetings, we are the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board of Erie County (ADAMHS Erie). This page formerly represented the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Erie & Ottawa Counties. To follow the new Ottawa County Board, search for the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot page.
“We are a new organization dedicating to serving the residents of Erie County! We plan, fund, direct, and monitor a wide variety of behavioral health services for Erie County. We are passionate about assisting those in need and being good stewards of the funding that we receive from local taxpayers. Follow our page to stay up to date on our activities to help build a stronger community!”
Board offices are located at 2900 Columbus Avenue, in the County Services Center building.
At last week’s ADAMHS board meeting, Stidham explained that radio ads are running to tell people about the new board and said digital and print advertising also has been purchased from the Sandusky Register.
Despite news coverage about the transition to the new board, many people don’t know about it, Stidham said. The new board wants to brand itself for people who do know what the board is and also reach people who are not aware of the board, Stidham said.
Longer term, the board wants to campaign against stigma, making sure people understand it is OK to seek help if they have mental health issues, Stidham said.
Progress has been made in removing the stigma of seeking help for substance abuse issues, Stidham said.
“Stigma is the most important issue,” he said. “We see that same opportunity with mental health.”