Who We Are
WHO WE ARE
CONNECT Summit County is family members, loved ones, friends, and colleagues of people struggling with mental illness. CONNECT is mental health service providers. And, CONNECT is people not directly affected by mental illness who recognize the serious challenge facing our community. Together, we raise our voices against the stigma and isolation of mental illness and work for more comprehensive and accessible mental health services in our county.
Our mission is to create a well-informed and stigma-free community with access to mental health services for all.
We are proud to be the people’s voice for mental health in Summit County.
CONNECT Summit County’s team is acutely aware of the urgency of addressing mental illness. We work to provide Summit County community members with free educational programing, assistance in navigating the mental healthcare system, financial assistance for therapy, mental health awareness campaigns, access to providers, access to support groups, and advocacy for system changes.
CONNECT Summit County was created by a passionate group of Summit County residents who realized that mental health resources were difficult to find. Nearly everyone who comes to work with, or volunteers at, CONNECT Summit County has lived with a mental health condition, or taken care of a loved one with a mental illness. Rural communities like Summit County have traditionally lacked mental health awareness, education, and services, which increases the impact of stigma and isolation for families and loved ones facing mental health challenges.
- Stigma shows up in public education policies, where teachers are not allowed to ask how a student is feeling.
- Stigma shows up when a person who is not okay decides that they will not look for therapy because they do not feel they deserve help.
- Stigma shows up because people feel they need to be tough, and asking for help equates to weakness.
- Stigma shows up for Latinx/Hispanic community members when they say they are not ok and their family tells them to pray more.
The drive that fuels the work of staff, volunteers, and board members at CONNECT Summit County is to erase stigma so that we can help save lives. Mental illness is devastating to families, and if we want to live in a healthier, happier society, we need to confront stigma through awareness, education, and community.