MOUNT VERNON — Hope Through Trauma — that was the theme of Wednesday morning’s Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at the Woodward Opera House.
Mayor Matt Starr gathered alongside Knox County police chaplains, local judges and village administrators to dive into the topic of trauma.
“Together, we can take on these levels of trauma,” Starr said.
Emily Morrison, Community Relations Coordinator of Mental Health and Recovery Board for Licking and Knox Counties, detailed the mental and addiction services the government entity offers. The department offers classes about trauma, the pre-notions of suicide and other mental health issues.
Brian Pierson, the regional director of outreach population at Mount Carmel Health, discussed what makes trauma fester and what steps can be taken to create a healthier environment in communities.
“Those of us are (that are) taking breath, are taking trauma,” Pierson said. “Trauma is a human experience.”
Pierson spoke about getting people to safety if they don’t have stable housing.
“Lived experience is very important,” Pierson said. “Peer support is very important. Traumatic experiences are the key lines of behavioral issues.”
Mount Carmel Health works alongside 150 faith communities, arming them with necessary information to address trauma and “to get a person where they’re self sufficient.”
“You don’t have to wonder where they’re sleeping, eating, or their next meal,” Pierson said. “We want to make sure our community has those things available to them.”
