Marcy Patton, the executive director of the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, has seen that buoyancy first hand, but she also knows that a little help can go a long way when walking the road to recovery.

For those impacted by last year’s Norfolk Southern train derailment, that road has been rocky. Patton, the recovery board and the entire Columbiana County mental health community hope to help residents still suffering from the stresses of the rail disaster find their way to mental well-being through the newly opened East Palestine Resiliency Center. The facility is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township.

“Resiliency is about getting back up after life knocks you down,” Patton said. “And many in the area have struggled to get back up after last year’s tragedy. The Resiliency Center is a place to help people get back on their feet and become stronger in the process.”

The center was made possible in the form of two emergency response grants the recovery board received with the aid of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS) and through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The first being an immediate $209,402 response to support mental health in the aftermath of the derailment and the second a $879,509 intermediate grant to establish more long-lasting services to assist those impacted by the rail disaster. The grants were used to fund the East Palestine Resiliency Project — an initiative to provide help and promote healing for those affected by the derailment — and ultimately the brick-and-mortar location where all the services can be accessed under one roof. A donation from Norfolk Southern helped secure the building and create a to foster healing.

Members of the Mental Health community and local leaders joined Marcy Patton (center), executive director of the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, in cutting the ribbon on the East Palestine Resiliency Center on Monday. The center, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

“SAMHSA approved grant funding in the amount of $1,088, 911. The funding from the grants in addition to a generous funding Norfolk Southern for the purchase and renovation of the building have made this center a reality,” Patton said.

The center will offer traditional treatment as well as alternative and creative approaches to mental well-being. All services are free of charge to eligible individuals while funding permits.

“We will build resiliency by treating the whole person and not just the symptoms of a mental illness, and we will do so by offering a long array of both traditional and holistic activities for all ages,” center director Dianah Fabry said. “It is a place where individuals affected by the train derailment can find solace, guidance and the resources they need to navigate life’s hurdles. Whether you are seeking counseling, education or simply a supportive community, the center is here to serve you.”

The center’s services include mental health and substance use disorder treatment, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy, counseling (individual, family, and group), support groups, educational sessions, meditation, yoga, tai chi, creative arts therapies, chair massage, pet therapy with Cedric the therapy dog, culinary art therapy and computer stations for vocational and navigator assistance. The center also features a space for children to work through the residual effects that still linger in the derailment’s wake.

“The center is truly amazing and it’s going to be such an asset to the East Palestine community and to Columbiana County as a whole,” State Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel said. “Each person has different needs and this center can fulfill them all under one roof.”

Members of the Mental Health community and local leaders joined Marcy Patton (center), executive director of the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, in cutting the ribbon on the East Palestine Resiliency Center on Monday. The center, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

East Palestine Village Manage Chad Edwards urged all area residents to consider the support available at the Resiliency Center and to make use of the help offered.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of mental health and mental health treatment. What this area went through, what this town went through during the derailment is something I can’t even imagine,” he said. “And I encourage everybody to take advantage of these opportunities and these resources that are being made available.”

For information about the center and services, call 330-718-8260 or visit the East Palestine Resiliency Center Facebook page.

The newly-opened East Palestine Resiliency Center held its ribbon-cutting on Monday. The facility, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

The newly-opened East Palestine Resiliency Center held its ribbon-cutting on Monday. The facility, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

Marcy Patton, executive director of the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, speaks to guests before the ribbon-cutting of the East Palestine Resiliency Center on Monday. The center, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

The newly-opened East Palestine Resiliency Center offers a wide array of mental health treatment including chair massage therapy. The center held its ribbon-cutting on Monday. The facility, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

Dianah Fabry, director of the newly-opened East Palestine Resiliency Center, speaks to guests before the center’s ribbon-cutting on Monday. The center, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

East Palestine Village Manager Chad Edwards speaks to guests before the ribbon-cutting of the East Palestine Resiliency Center on Monday. The center, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

State Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (District 79) speaks at the grand opening of the East Palestine Resiliency Center on Monday. The center, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

State Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (District 79) speaks at the grand opening of the East Palestine Resiliency Center on Monday. The center, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

Ashleigh Davis, psychotherapist and handler of Cedric the Therapy Dog, celebrated the grand opening of the East Palestine Resiliency Center on Monday. The center, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

The newly-opened East Palestine Resiliency Center offers computer stations for vocational and navigator assistance. The center held its ribbon-cutting on Monday. The facility, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

LeeAnne Coryn of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services speaks at the grand opening of the East Palestine Resiliency Center on Monday. The center, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

A kid-friendly art room is one of the spaces created to foster healing at the newly-opened East Palestine Resiliency Center. The center held its ribbon-cuttiing on Monday. The facility, which was made possible through state and federal grants and a donation from Norfolk Southern, was established to help area residents navigate through the residual health impacts experienced in the wake of last year’s train derailment. The center is located at 50410 state Route 14 in Unity Township. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)