Focus on the front-line workers

As the Huron County Board of Mental Health & Addiction Services (MHAS) shared in a previous article, this week we have focused on and recognized our frontline workers in Huron County for Frontline Worker Appreciation Week. As we continue to face addiction issues in our community and in communities throughout Ohio, we wanted to take this week to highlight the efforts of the individuals on the front lines of this fight. In Huron County, we have countless men and women, brave frontline workers who selflessly serve our community daily. Frontline workers often face challenging, dangerous, and draining situations while working crazy shifts and long hours to ensure there is help when it is needed. Each year there are countless emergencies that reaffirm the importance and bravery of our frontline workers. However, it is not just the major events that make frontline workers so special and vital to our communities. It is the day in, day out responsibilities, tasks, and commitment to serve where these frontline workers shine the brightest. Throughout Ohio, communities are holding appreciation activities for frontline workers who strive daily to help individuals struggling with addiction, with the message "Bringing Help, Bringing Hope. Thank You." The goal of this coordinated effort is to show our appreciation for all individuals, families, and professionals on the front lines of this fight in our community. The Huron County Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services would like to express our thanks and our gratitude to the countless individuals who spend their days working tirelessly, in an often thankless role, to help save lives. Additionally, these individuals help those that they serve engage in treatment and achieve recovery, support children and families impacted by this disease, promote prevention activities, and build strong, resilient communities. Thanks to their efforts, numerous individuals in our community have received the help needed to fight their addiction and are now in recovery, bringing hope to our community and sending the message that treatment works and people do recover. One way MHAS decided to show our appreciation was to create an appreciation video for all of our frontline workers in Huron County. MHAS collaborated with Tony Schaffer, owner of Oddfellow Productions, to create the video. Use the link below to access the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKQrvsXUCXw&feature=youtu.be Please be sure to take a moment this coming week to thank our frontline workers and first responders. Kristen W. Cardone, LPCC-S, LICDC. is executive director of the Huron County Board of Mental Health & Addiction Services.