Governor DeWine unveils specialty license plate to support Suicide Prevention Foundation

Throughout the month of May, 21 News is committed to spotlighting the escalating needs for mental health support across all demographics and encouraging you to "Take the Moment."

Governor Mike DeWine unveiled a new specialty license plate design during a press conference on Tuesday.

The new license plate will feature the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline logo.

The license plates aims to support Ohioans who may struggle or may be struggling with mental health by raising public awareness, sharing the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number.

Additionally, the purchase of one specialty plate will give $25 to the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation and $10 to the Public Safety Highway Fund. 

The specialty license plate is available for purchase as of Tuesday at all Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle locations.

Governor Mike DeWine spoke on the number of Ohioans who have reached out to 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for help.

"Since our launch in July of 2022, our Ohio call centers have responded to more than a half a million calls, texts and chats from individuals who were in distress. Those numbers represent, each one of them, real people - real Ohioans who were going through some of the toughest moments in their lives, and people who need help and need help immediately."

LeeAnne Cornyn, Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, also spoke at the press conference.

Cornyn spoke more on the work that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline does.

"Today, more than 400 trained professionals are answering calls, texts and chats all across our state. They are skilled at listening, at deescalating and when needed, they can connect individuals to local treatment providers and recovery supports in their community. In most cases, a caring conversation is enough to help someone through their crisis, and when it's not, the specialist makes sure they get connected to the next level of care."

Cornyn continued, "Because of our efforts, Ohio is truly viewed as a national model of how to do this work right."

According to the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, Chip and Debbie McClintock lost two loved ones to suicide.

Chip and Debbie were in attendance at the conference, and Debbie spoke on not only the loss she has experienced, but also expressed gratefulness to Ohio Governor DeWine for signing Senate Bill 163 into law which established the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline specialty plate. 

Debbie also expressed gratefulness to the resources, such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, that are available to Ohioans who may be struggling.

Debbie and Chip were presented with an honorary 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline plate during the conference, as pictured above.

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