We, the undersigned residents of Ohio, recognize the urgent need for accessible, community-based mental health education and support. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) has empowered over 30,000 Ohioans to recognize signs of mental health challenges, respond with compassion, and connect individuals to appropriate care.
The MHFA Colloborative has:
· Trained over 30,000 educators, first responders, and at-risk communities.
· Built a statewide network of advocates and 120+ Instructors.
· Reduced stigma and increased access to mental health resources.
We believe this work must continue.
As Ohio faces growing mental health needs — especially among youth, older adults, and underserved communities — MHFA remains a vital tool for prevention, early intervention, and resilience-building.
We respectfully urge the State of Ohio to:
· Restore and sustain funding for MHFA programming.
· Support the infrastructure needed to train and retain instructors.
· Invest in community-based mental health education as a public health priority.
Mental health is health.
Education saves lives.
Ohioans deserve continued access to MHFA.