As a community-based behavioral health agency, OHRS provides crisis, treatment, and recovery support services to the many people in our region living with mental health and/or substance use disorders. We are horrified by the tragic and unnecessary deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and countless others.

 

On a daily basis, OHRS partners with and relies on members of the law enforcement community. They too have expressed outrage at the deaths of George Floyd and others, as this is not reflective of their fundamental values to protect and serve our communities.

 

OHRS staff advocate on behalf of a stigmatized population where systemic inequalities are often a barrier to recovery and healing. Black Lives Matter has brought to the forefront many goals that we strongly support:

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1. To practice empathy and engage with others with the intent to learn about and connect with their contexts;

2. To acknowledge, respect, and celebrate differences and commonalities;

3. Every day, recommit to healing ourselves and each other, and to co-creating alongside peers, friends, allies, and family, a culture where each person feels seen, heard, and supported.

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Prejudice and racism toward any group creates trauma and is damaging to the overall well-being of our community. OHRS is committed to continued advocacy for the population we serve, and we re-affirm our longstanding policy against discrimination and bias.

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