DEFIANCE, OH – One Step at a Time is sponsoring mental health backpack tags for all Defiance County students in grades 6 through 12 as part of an effort led by the POWER Defiance County Coalition to increase mental health awareness, education, and access to support resources for local youth.
The backpack tags feature the 4 Your Mental Health logo on one side and a QR code on the other that links students directly to 4ymh.crediblemind.com/landing/youth, a free online mental health resource designed specifically for youth ages 13-18. The site provides expert-vetted information, self-assessments, coping tools, community resource connections, and multi-learning style content to help young people navigate and overcome mental health challenges.
POWER Defiance County is a collaboration of agencies and organizations dedicated to optimizing the health and well-being of Defiance County residents. Following findings from the 2024 Community Health Assessment (CHA), a Mental & Behavioral Health Workgroup was created to address priorities identified in the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), including concerns related to youth and adult mental health.
The assessment revealed concerning trends among local youth:
- 32% of Defiance County students in grades 6-12 reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks in a row.
- 17.4% of students reported seriously considering suicide.
- 24% of students have been diagnosed with anxiety.
- Nearly one in five students reported they do not talk to anyone about their problems.
These findings underscore the importance of providing reliable, confidential, and easily accessible mental health resources for youth.
“Our youth are struggling and many do not know where to turn for support,” said Jessica West, Public Information Officer for the Defiance County Health Department. “Our Defiance County youth need access to trusted resources whenever they need them. We want to support our youth in every way we can so they can grow into healthy, resilient, and thriving adults.”
The 4ymh.crediblemind.com website was launched in August 2025 through a partnership between the Four County ADAMhs Board and the 4 Your Mental Health collaboration, which includes the health departments in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, and Williams counties. CredibleMind’s mission is “to provide and empower all people with the opportunity to take charge of their mental health” by offering access to thousands of expert-reviewed resources, scientifically validated mental health assessments, community agencies, and tools for a variety of learning styles.
When funding was needed to place this information into the hands of local youth, West said the partnership with One Step at a Time was an obvious fit. “When we began looking for ways to fund this project and get these resources directly to Defiance County youth, One Step at a Time seemed like a natural partner,” West said. “We are both working toward the same goal: raising awareness about mental health, connecting young people to help, and preventing tragedies before they occur.”
One Step at a Time was founded by Sherri Hammermith with a mission to raise awareness about teen depression and suicide while supporting prevention efforts throughout the community. “Now, my road to recovery is to help stop one more parent from being a survivor and another child from becoming a statistic. That is how One Step At A Time came into my life,” said Hammermith.
Hammermith also praised the value of the CredibleMind platform for local families. “CredibleMind is an outstanding resource because it provides trusted information, tools, and support in one place,” Hammermith said. “Whether a young person is looking for answers for themselves or a parent is trying to better understand how to help their child, these resources can make a real difference. We’re proud to support an initiative that helps connect youth and families with the support they need.”
Backpack tags will be distributed to students in grades 6-12 at Ayersville, Fairview, Hicksville, Tinora, and Defiance schools during November and December.
For more information about the Community Health Improvement Plan and other community health initiatives, visit www.powerdefiance.org.
For more information about One Step at a Time, visit https://onestep5krunwalk.org/.
About POWER Defiance County
POWER Defiance County is a collaborative effort among local agencies, organizations, and community partners working together to improve the health and well-being of Defiance County residents through assessment, planning, and community-driven action.
About One Step at a Time
One Step at a Time seeks to raise awareness about teen depression and suicide, provide education and support, and promote efforts that help prevent youth suicide and strengthen families throughout the community.
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Jessica West, PIO
1300 E. Second St., Ste. 100
Defiance, OH. 43512
419-784-3818
