LIBERTY — In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Belmont Pines Hospital has joined schools, community organizations and individuals across the state to launch the Kids in Care & Kindness (KICK) campaign.

The campaign aims to provide comfort to children entering psychiatric and behavioral health hospitalization.

The goal of the KICK campaign is for community members to explore kindness by writing brief, anonymous postcards of support to Belmont Pines patients.

Cards will be distributed to children upon admission to help them feel more supported during their treatment. To accomplish this goal, Belmont Pines provided organizations with free blank postcards that they can complete by sharing words of encouragement with patients.

Belmont Pines has been the regional leader in behavioral and psychiatric care for children and teens for more than 30 years. In 2025, the facility received more than 6,000 calls for help from 30 U.S. states and all 88 Ohio counties and provided direct care for nearly 2,000 children onsite.

When a child enters psychiatric care, they may experience fear, anxiety and a sense of loneliness or loss. With limited contact from outside support during their stay, a kind word or compassionate gesture can be the catalyst for success.

Participating organizations include:

● United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley

● Trumbull County Family and Children First Council

● The Ursuline Sisters Mission

● Wendy Persson, licensed marriage and family therapist

● Southington Local Schools

● East Liverpool Local Schools

● Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities

● The Early Childhood Resource Center

● Trumbull County Wild Clovers 4-H

● Girl Scout Troop 83685

● Someplace Safe

● Lima YMCA

● Windsor-Laurelwood Center

● Belmont Pines Hospital Staff

The KICK campaign has already received more than 100 completed postcards with hundreds more distributed and pledged.

If you or your organization would like to participate, reach out to Belmont Pines Hospital’s Director of Business Development, Rebecca Bayley at Rebecca.bayley@uhsinc.com or 610-306-1381.