Mount Vernon News

Resiliency -- the power to bounce back

By Dodie Melvin/NAMI Knox Licking County Ohio | Feb 24, 2022

It's winter and I have decided bears have the right idea of hibernating until spring. The weather and snowy ground cover may be good for the farmer's winter wheat crop, but not so good for those of us who may struggle with depression, seasonal or otherwise, and anxiety. It's a season hard on mood disorders and we have to gather our resources and develop some resiliency to function to the benefit our mental health.

Gratitude – 'Tis the season to be jolly...' and be grateful

By Dodie Melvin/NAMI Knox Licking County Ohio | Dec 17, 2021

In a quandary as to what mental health moment to share with you in the midst of the Jolly season, I thought of doing an article on SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), which is a common disorder shared repeatedly amongst some of us humans year after year during the winter months. SAD is a disorder which is treatable.

The importance of pretending

By Dodie Melvin/NAMI Knox Licking County Ohio | Nov 19, 2021

PRETENDING . . . "You can try out life by pretending." - Fred M. Rogers (1972)

Local events highlight National Suicide Prevention Week

By Dodie Melvin/NAMI Knox Licking County Ohio | Aug 26, 2021

Mount Vernon, OH - National Suicide Prevention Week is September 5 – 11, and there are two important events happening in Knox County to bring awareness. On Friday, September 10 from 10:00 a.m.

Everyone is a 'gatekeeper' when it comes to suicide prevention: A Mental Health Minute with Dodie Melvin –

By Dodie Melvin/NAMI Knox Licking County Ohio | Jul 29, 2021

A gatekeeper is commonly a person who has control of opening a gate – in this sense as it pertains to suicide prevention -- a gatekeeper can open the gate to information that may save a life!

What is behavioral health?

By Dodie Melvin/NAMI Knox Licking County Ohio | Jul 8, 2021

You say, “either,” and I say, “neither” — it’s all in the way we use words sometimes. When we talk about mental illness we sometimes use words like “conditions.” The words are interchangeable. More recently we describe mental illness as “behavioral health.” On the other hand, we talk about “disorders.” Whatever we choose to say, the bottom line is we (at NAMI) are talking about mental “health” and diseases that impact our behaviors.