By DIANE M. MOORE
HOLMES COUNTY ? Although May – nationally recognized as Mental Health Awareness month – is over, Eye of Hope Recovery Advocates are using the hashtag #notonemore to raise awareness about the issue all year long.
Eye of Hope’s main focus is on recovery but they are cognizant of the fact that most times addiction is a result of trauma and as Founder Samantha Peacock says, “We will meet you where you are at.” No matter where you are in the addiction process, they will meet you there and help in any way they can.
The group can connect those in need with resources such as counseling or rehabilitation and if they do not have the particular resource, as a peer network, they can connect with someone who does.
Members of Eye of Hope will soon be carrying Narcan which can be used
if someone has overdosed. This goes hand in hand with the Good Samaritan
Act which states: Any
person, including those licensed to practice medicine, who gratuitously
and in good faith renders emergency care or treatmentÂ… shall not be
held liable for any civil damages as a result of such care or treatment.
A sign at the intersection of State Road 90 and County Road 181C simply reads, “If you are looking for a sign not to kill yourself, here it is,” Peacock said she saw the quote online and it resonated with her and hoped it would do the same for someone else in need. The
#notonemore hashtag is on the reverse side of the sign with the words,
mother, brother, father, uncle, sister, brother, cousin and more as a way to represent those who have been lost to suicide. People who would like their loved one’s name on the sign can send the information to Eye of Hope at eyeofhoperecovery@gmail.com. Banners will be popping up all over the county with that quote and information on how to reach out for help. The non-profit is based in Westville but is spreading out to reach the entire county.
A ‘Recovery Rally’ is set for 8 a.m. on September 11 at Westville park where there will be a 5K color run, vendors, motivational speakers, music, activities for the kids and much more. For more information on Eye of Hope you can visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EyeOfHopeRecoveryAdvocates or you can call Samantha Webster Peacock at 850-768-3570.
Staff Report 