On May 6th, 2026, I participated in the 20th annual Resiliency Ring at the Ohio Statehouse. This was the 4th time I had participated in this event. Hosted by National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Ohio, the event featured a hotel brunch at the beginning of the event featuring a panel held by state legislators, such as state representative Dontavius Jarrells. There was also an exhibit hall featuring many health-focused organizations sharing resources to attendees. I was unable to attend this part of the event due to other obligations.
I was able to attend the second half of the event. This involved a march from the hotel to the statehouse, complete with a banner and drummers. I listened to featured speakers, such as the executive director of NAMI Ohio share their personal stories, talk about the state of mental health and what improvements can be made moving forward. There was also live music courtesy of Heather Evans, a local musician. At the end, we all came together to form a ring in front of the Statehouse to symbolize our resiliency (a resiliency ring, if you will).
In addition to all of this, I enjoyed reconnecting with some people I had not seen in a while. Over the last year, I have been very busy between internships, college, and working with the Young Adult Council and the Center for Disability Empowerment. This meant I have not stayed in contact with some people as often as I should have. Although this was somewhat unrelated to the event, this was a highlight on a personal level.
That was my experience at the 20th annual Resiliency Ring! With any luck, I’ll be back next year once again advocating for youth mental health!
Michael Jung, YAC member
