Seventy years ago, mental health was rarely discussed openly. Families struggled quietly, often unsure where to turn. Too many people carried anxiety, depression, or crisis alone without clear support or understanding. 

In 1956, a small group of community members in Franklin County believed something different. They believed mental health should be met with dignity, compassion, and shared responsibility. They believed no one should have to walk that journey alone. 

From that belief, Mental Health America of Franklin County (MHAFC) was born. 

In its earliest years, the organization gathered neighbors for monthly public forums to talk about mental health at a time when such conversations were uncommon. It published one of the community’s first Directories of Mental Health & Recovery Services so families could find help more easily. In 1967, it helped establish Suicide Prevention Services in Franklin County, bringing crisis support into public conversation and local action. 

As decades passed and care shifted from institutions into communities, MHAFC evolved alongside it. Peer-led support groups, like Families In Touch, reminded families that shared experiences are a powerful medicine. Publication campaigns on depression and anxiety increased awareness. Advocacy efforts helped advance mental health parity and strengthen Ohio’s behavioral health system. 

In 2008, a small pilot program called the Ombudsman Program began helping individuals navigate what can feel like an overwhelming system of providers and services. What started locally has since grown into a cornerstone care navigation program, connecting thousands of Ohioans to counseling, treatment, and community support. 

In 2012, the organization expanded its reach by acquiring POEM (Perinatal Outreach & Encouragement for Moms), an independent organization that became a program within the agency. Through critical peer support and access to care, POEM ensures pregnant and postpartum individuals have somewhere to turn, while training providers to respond and refer. POEM secured funding to launch POEM Rise, designed by Black mothers to provide essential, dedicated support for Black moms and families and address gaps in care they continue to face. 

Then in 2020, after more than six decades of leadership in Franklin County, the organization formally became Mental Health America of Ohio (MHAOhio), expanding advocacy, training, and programming across the state. 

Beyond supporting maternal mental health and helping thousands of people access mental health care, MHAOhio hosts dozens of support groups each month, helps peer recovery supporters prepare for and connect to meaningful employment, addresses behavioral health workforce issues, leads a suicide prevention coalition, and advances mental health policy through various advocacy efforts. Yet at the heart of every program is the same simple promise made in 1956: you matter, and help is possible. 

As we celebrate 70 years, we honor the volunteers, advocates, professionals, and community members who carried this mission forward. 

And as we look toward the next chapter, one truth remains unchanged: Mental health matters. And no one should ever have to face it alone. Join us in building the next 70 years of hope.