BATAVIA, Ohio — The Clermont County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed Sept. 13-19, 2026, as Suicide Prevention Week in the county, calling on residents to promote hope, connection and support for people affected by suicide.
The commissioners presented the proclamation during their Sept. 2 meeting. Dr. Lee Ann Watson, executive director of the Clermont County Mental Health & Recovery Board, and Kelsey Smothers accepted it on behalf of the board, according to a post from the county.
During the presentation, Smothers highlighted the county’s upcoming 25th annual Suicide Awareness Candlelight Vigil, which honors Clermont County residents lost to suicide, the county said.
The vigil is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at Sycamore Park, 4082 State Route 132 in Batavia.
The Mental Health & Recovery Board contracts with local prevention, treatment and recovery agencies across Clermont County and coordinates behavioral health programming countywide, according to the board’s website.
Anyone in crisis can reach the Clermont and Brown Crisis Hotline 24 hours a day at 513-528-SAVE (7283), or call or text 988, the county said.
The information contained in this story was obtained from Clermont County.