EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - The Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board along with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services announced the creation of a community support meeting and stress management group to help meet the needs of those impacted by the East Palestine train derailment disaster Friday.

Both groups will meet in different locations weekly from April 17 until the end of June 2023.

Community Support Meetings will occur every Monday from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Community Room inside the East Palestine Memorial Library. The library is located at 309 N. Market St.

The Stress Management Group will meet every Tuesday from 6-7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church located at 109 Rebecca St.

The meetings are supported by a portion of the $209,402 Emergency Response Grant awarded to Ohio by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Residents who attend these meetings will learn how to process stress and anxiety, develop healthy coping mechanisms, establish linkages to social support and rebuild community bonds.

All meetings are free and open to residents of East Palestine and its surrounding communities.