It was Dec. 18, 2006. Katherine “Kat” Ranko ducked into a Connecticut convenience store, grabbed Norelco electric razors and teeth whiteners, and ran out.

People are often surprised when Lisa Bails Froyd tells them she has a mental health disorder.

It is 1990, and Steve Belovich can’t recall the past three years of his life.

Over the past 20 years, Sal Rummo has gone from a business owner to a man without a home to a paragon to his peers.

Dr. Oscar Urrea recounted a conversation he had last week with a man who was distraught that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

For decades, Shawn English relied on drugs and alcohol.

Even as a kindergarten student, Charles Francis “Chuck” Mahoney IV, was a champion for the underdog.

Samantha Mueller, 32, delivers mail as a rural carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in her hometown of Canonsburg.

The 21st Century Cures Act passed by Congress in December will boost funding for medical research and experimental treatments, but U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy doesn’t think the law goes far enough to help people with mental health issues.

Jillian Yohe was 12 years old when a classmate told her to kill herself.

The call came in from the 911 center as a welfare check on a woman known to Waynesburg police.

The highlight of Laurie Reynolds’ career occurred when she earned the Robert A. Harms Professional of the Year award from the Mental Health Association of Washington County in 2009.

Ali Budz was a new student in a new environment with a changing mindset.

MONONGAHELA – Finding the right therapist to counsel a client can sometimes be a challenge, a mental health professional at Mon Valley Hospital said.

Rueben Brock was 7 when he heard the gunshot.

WAYNESBURG – Daniel Latanation meticulously logged the step count for each pedometer Thursday before a group of people at Open Arms Drop-in Center prepared for an afternoon stroll through Waynesburg.

There were times in Jenny Simmons’ early life when she was overcome with unease, like the time she couldn’t catch her breath during her younger sister’s gymnastics practice. And the time in sixth grade when she hyperventilated while playing outside during recess.

As part of our year-long Mental Health Matters series, staff writer David Singer has created a four-part podcast examining one of the mental health services offered by Washington Health System–the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

A worker wouldn’t think twice about calling off for a cold, but most will still show up suffering through symptoms of anxiety, depression or other mental health issues.

As part of our year-long Mental Health Matters series, staff writer David Singer has created a four-part podcast examining one of the mental health services offered by Washington Health System–the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

As part of our year-long Mental Health Matters series, staff writer David Singer has created a four-part podcast examining one of the mental health services offered by Washington Health System–the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Patrick Arena celebrates 29 years of sobriety on Sept. 1.

Dr. Jeanine Herdman recently received a phone call from an 18-year-old patient she has been treating for the past four years.

When Kami Meyer was an infant, her parents thought she was a colicky baby.

Scott Martin was not an enthusiastic student.

Five years ago, Alexandria Taylor was “very defiant.”

The Observer-Reporter will publish the second installment of the Mental Health Matters series Sunday, June 26, 2016. Here are some of the stories you’ll read.

In the first episode of the Mental Health Matters podcast, Washington, Pa. therapist Michael Pecosh sits down with the Observer-Reporter's Liz Rogers, Karen Mansfield and Natalie Miller to talk about the first installment of the newspaper's mental health series and the future of the series.

The last Wednesday of her life, Monica Held surrounded herself with those she loved and who loved her.

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series exploring mental health issues in Washington and Greene counties.

I think that Monica’s wish would be that each of her students would remember her and know that she loved them all. That to be kind to each other would be the biggest honor to her. We went them to know that if the thought of suicide ever crosses their mind or the mind of someone they know and…

The statistics are startling.