Update speaker says mental health struggles are lonely

The Mental Health Matters Bartholomew County initiative will be having a community wide update on Tuesday, taking a look back at the first year of the effort and a look at where things are headed.

The team will share information about the current state of the community’s mental health system and new initiatives launched in the past year.

The keynote speaker will be Amelia Zachary, author of Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania and Motherhood. Organizers say she will be sharing a message of hope and encouragement.

She explains her struggles with getting the mental health help she needed.

Zachary says that mental health illnesses are insidious, making you feel like you are going through it alone.

There will also be speakers representing the various member organizations of the coalition including the city of Columbus and Bartholomew County governments, the county courts, Centerstone, Columbus Regional Health, Bartholomew Consolidated Schools and the United Way of Bartholomew County.

The Better Together Mental Health Initiative community update will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. April 30th at The Commons. The event is free and you are invited to attend.