The ACTION Psychology Club will sponsor its annual Mental Health Expo from 1-4 p.m. April 23 at the Ohio University Southern Mains Rotunda in Ironton.

The event is designed to raise public awareness of mental health issues and to provide an outlet for agencies in the area to showcase their services.

Hannah Wilkes, ACTION president, said it is important for Tri-State residents to know all the services in the area available for them to utilize.

“This event will decrease the stigma of taking advantage of these services because it will show people that they are not the only ones suffering from a particular problem,” Wilkes said. “Community members should come to the event not only to see the services available to people, but also to broaden their knowledge of the mental issues that are out there.”

Wilkes said the event provides the public the opportunity to talk to professionals in the field and see what it is like to work with various organizations.

Nina Queen, ACTION faculty advisor, said the expo has grown over the past four years the club has hosted the event. She said participation from mental health organizations in the area has increased and herself and club members hope the increase continues to give the public more exposure to all the services available to them.

Wilkes said a lot of work goes into gathering organizations to participate in the event, but it has been made easier by those who have taken part in the past who agreed to continue their involvement in the expo.

There will be refreshments made available during the event and Wilkes said ACTION strives to make the expo an event that will provide enlightenment for the community members that attend.