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If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text one of the hotlines below. Counselors and intake specialists are available to offer free, confidential support whenever you need it.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, it is important to seek help immediately. No matter if you’re struggling with depression, substance use, relationship problems or family turmoil, free and confidential support is available. You are not alone and talking to someone could help save a life.

To raise awareness and help save the lives of those thinking about suicide, it is important to understand and recognize the warning signs. Suicide is preventable, and we all play an important role. Learn how to identify the signs, start a dialogue and take action.

Unfortunately, more than two-thirds of children have been exposed to domestic violence by the age of 17. Witnessing violence can have long-term impacts on these adolescents, putting them at higher risk for substance use, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and even further domestic violence. Find resources to help prevent violence in the home and support young people experiencing domestic violence in Stark County.

According to RAINN, every 98 seconds, someone experiences sexual assault. This could include actions such as harassment, rape or sexual violence. For a young person who has suffered sexual abuse, the effects can be long lasting, leading to physical, emotional and psychological harm. Find rape crisis services and sexual abuse support groups available in Stark County.

Unfortunately, childhood rape is not a rare occurrence and is often carried out by a trusted loved one. This can cause deep shame and emotional turmoil, preventing a child from speaking out against the abuse. Find local resources where you can report suspicions of childhood rape and find support resources for kids in crisis.

We all have an important role in the mission to end suicide. If you suspect someone you love is at risk, contact law enforcement, a national hotline or a mental health provider right away. Taking action could help prevent a tragedy and save a life. Reach out today for free, confidential guidance and support.

Opioid use is a growing concern in Stark County. For the past several years, opioid overdose has been the leading cause of injury-related death in Ohio. According to the Ohio Department of Health, 37 percent of unintentional overdose deaths are caused by prescription painkillers.

Opiates and opioids are similar, highly addictive drugs. Opiates, including heroin, morphine and codeine are made from the opium poppy plant. Opioids is a broader term that includes opiates and synthetic opioids such as prescription painkillers like hydrocodone and oxycodone,

Learn what you can do to support your friends, family and classmates who are hurting. Suicide is a leading cause of death for adolescents ages 10 to 24 and an unfortunate reality in our community. Together, we can help prevent teen suicide.

Students with developmental disabilities are often disciplined by removing them from the learning environment – such as through suspension or expulsion. Nonviolent crisis intervention training works to keep all students in the classroom using positive behavior supports and other preventative measures. Contact your local school district to learn more about nonviolent crisis intervention training.

Is your family in need of financial support? Everyone faces difficult times at one point or another. Fortunately, there are many local organizations in Stark County committed to lifting up community members in times of hardship. If you need cash, food or medical assistance, reach out for help today.

In 2023, 2-1-1, Stark County’s helpline, transitioned to StarkHelpCentral.com. 

Closing the Stark County information system and online database—that was run by United Way of Greater Stark County—and moving resources to StarkHelpCentral.com helps streamline the process for community members looking for resources and information.  

StarkHelpCentral.com can help you find community resources available to you and your family. The searchable community resource website is supported by Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery (StarkMHAR),

If you are going through a housing crisis or find yourself homeless, emergency shelter is available throughout Stark County. Various organizations offer overnight sleeping accommodations and temporary shelter.

Contact a location below or call the Stark County Homeless Hotline at (330) 452-4363.

In recent years, heroin use has been on the rise across the nation, throughout Ohio and in Stark County. According to Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery (StarkMHAR), 1,444 members of our community were treated for opiate use in 2016 – nearly six times the number treated 10 years earlier. Find resources and programs to help raise awareness, educate the community and combat this growing epidemic.

Mental Health Awareness Month is observed every May in the United States. It’s a time to recognize that our mental health is part of our overall health, fight stigmas surrounding mental health issues, learn about various issues and policies, and more. Whether or not you are personally dealing with a mental health issue, it is important to find ways to participate in Mental Health Awareness Month.

Here are four Mental Health Awareness Month tips so you can participate and support those around you.

This year, we’ve faced a pandemic unlike anything in our lifetimes. As we get closer to a vaccine for coronavirus, many people in Stark County are still feeling the stressful effects. Fortunately, the stress response is normal during a crisis.

Are you looking for ways to manage feelings of stress and anxiety? Here are some common questions we have received related to mental health, coping with COVID-19 in the community,

The UK organization LifeSIGNS started dedicating March 1st as Self Injury Awareness Day in 2002. Now, 20 years later, it is a national awareness day for many countries, including the U.S. Self-injury goes by other names, including self-harm and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and encompasses a large range of actions that one takes to cope with extreme emotion, release tension from these emotions, or take back a perceived loss of control. While teens tend to be the most likely to self-injure,

As the opioid crisis in Northeast Ohio continued to grow, the Stark County Opiate & Addiction Task Force was created in 2011 to help educate the community and provide necessary resources on opioids. In 2014, Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) was created by the Ohio Health Department to bring together educational and naloxone distribution programs during the opioid epidemic. In order to prevent opioid overdose and to further harm reduction strategies, these organizations provide free overdose kits for anyone in Ohio who wants one.

Despite all the information available about anxiety, depression, addiction and other mental health issues, many misconceptions persist.

Mental health misconceptions can be dangerous when they keep people from getting the treatment they need. Let’s talk about mental health issues and learn to separate fact from fiction. What are some common misconceptions about mental health?

Mental health issues are uncommon,

For some families struggling with poverty and hunger, Thanksgiving can be a difficult holiday.  If you are dealing with food insecurity, need help with the expense of purchasing the needed ingredients for a special meal or are struggling with high medical bills, low wages, housing needs or other issues, we have gathered some valuable resources below.

Stark Help Central.com wants to help ensure everyone can enjoy the holiday, especially children.

Ongoing assistance can be found via food pantries,

Do you roll your eyes when you hear the words ‘self care’? Yeah, me too, and we are hearing it now more often than ever. For 20 years much of our community’s training emphasis has been on understanding both the devastation of trauma and the healing power of Resilience. Who knew that, unknowingly, we were preparing ourselves for 2020 – when our entire world would
experience a collective and ongoing traumatic pandemic.

The stability and predictability that had structured our lives?