Governor DeWine Announces New Leadership at RecoveryOhio

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Friday that Alisha Nelson, director of RecoveryOhio, has taken a new role in the private sector. Governor DeWine appointed Aimee Shadwick, current RecoveryOhio deputy director (pictured), to serve as interim director beginning on Jan. 8. “From the time she started working on our Heroin Unit when I was attorney general through her work on RecoveryOhio, Director Nelson has made a difference every day. She is a strong and passionate advocate for those struggling with mental health and substance use disorders and their families. I am grateful for her dedication and work to help save lives," Governor DeWine said. “I am confident Deputy Director Shadwick will build on Director Nelson’s work to coordinate prevention, interdiction, treatment, and long-term recovery supports for Ohioans impacted by mental health and substance use disorders.” Immediately after taking office, Governor DeWine created RecoveryOhio through his first Executive Order. He created RecoveryOhio to have a cabinet-level director in the Governor's office who would coordinate and expand the state’s efforts to combat substance use and mental health disorders by increasing prevention efforts, expanding treatment, providing support services for those in recovery and their families, and working with local law enforcement to provide resources to fight illicit drugs at the source.

CDC Expands Booster Shot Eligibility and Strengthens Recommendations for 12-17 Year Olds

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that adolescents age 12 to 17 years old should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series. Data show that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen protection against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants. ACIP reviewed the available safety data following the administration of over 25 million vaccine doses in adolescents; COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for adolescents aged 12-17. For some immunocompromised children aged 5-11 years old, CDC recommends an additional dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to complete the primary series – a total of three doses. Learn more about myths and facts or get answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines for children.

New Collaborative Research Effort to Analyze Racial, Ethnic Equity in Behavioral Health

Four organizations with a history of expertise in their fields have announced a collaborative effort to develop a report that identifies areas of racial and ethnic inequity in Ohio’s community behavioral health system and makes recommendations on strategies that can be used to address the inequities. The partners include: Central State University, the Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition (MHAC), Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence, Inc. (MACC), and Ohio University (the OHIO Alliance for Population Health will also provide vital data gathering and analysis support). The cornerstone of this research project is data. Historically, the gathering and coordination of data that quantify by race and ethnicity those who are impacted by inequities in behavioral health has been lacking. Beginning in late 2022, the partnership will release a report in a series of installments that will: 1) present gaps that exist between data that is needed and what is available; 2) provide an analysis of existing data; and 3) outline equitable strategies for responding to disparities. In addition, the report will recommend which data stakeholders should maintain and track going forward in order to improve racial equity in behavioral health treatment, services, and supports. Click HERE to view the media announcement.

Ohio Recovery Housing Seeking to Fill 2022 VISTA Positions

Ohio Recovery Housing has begun recruitment for its Bringing Recovery Home VISTA program. ORH has seven open AmeriCorps VISTA positions throughout Ohio and one open VISTA leader position in Columbus. Visit the ORH website to learn more and apply.

NCSACW Webinar: Addressing Needs of Adolescents at Risk of Suicide – Jan. 19

The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) will host a Meeting the Moment: How child welfare and substance use disorder treatment professionals can address the needs of adolescents at risk of suicide and mental health concerns webinar on Jan. 19 at 10:00 a.m. Participants will learn strategies to help the increasing number of adolescents at risk of suicide and mental health concerns. Among adolescents ages 15-19, rates of suicide began to increase in 2000 from 8 per 100,000 adolescents, reaching a peak of 11.8 per 100,000 adolescents in 2017. In 2019, suicide was the second leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults. Increases in suicide rates parallel increases among adolescents and young adults with self-harm attempts and depression.

Mobile Apps for Veterans Mental Health Promotional Items Available

The National Center for PTSD has a variety of free promotional items available upon request to create awareness of its Mobile Apps for Mental Health for veterans and servicemembers. In addition to mobile app calendars, pens, magnets, cloth screen screeners, bookmarks and sticky notes, and other promotional items, you can request a wide variety of PTSD-related brochures, posters and more, from the National Center for PTSD page on the Government Publishing Office site.

In the News

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1.9.22 | The Wall Street Journal The Metaverses effects on mental health: trivial or troubling?

1.8.22 | Dayton Daily News VOICES: Overdose death in Ohio: just another number?

1.8.22 | Steubenville Herald-Star TEMS part of multi-agency effort to curb fatal overdoses

1.8.22 | Lima News ‘An invisible addiction’: amid pandemic a rise in gambling addiction emerges

1.8.22 | Logan Daily News Hocking County set new record for overdose deaths in 2021

1.8.22 | The New York Times New York plans to install vending machines with anti-overdose drugs

1.8.22 | USA Today Exclusive poll: Overwhelming majority says the U.S. faces mental health crisis

1.7.22 | Columbus Dispatch Ohio medical marijuana: Autism, depression among newly proposed conditions in 2022

1.7.22 | WDTN-TV Can barbershops become safe spaces for Black men to talk about mental health?

1.7.22 | Sidney Daily News In 2021, RALI Ohio distributed nearly 40,000 medication disposal pouches

1.7.22 | Highland County Press Governor DeWine announces new leadership at RecoveryOhio

1.7.22 | WTOV-TV Operation Restoration aiding youth through online mentorship

1.7.22 | WKRC-TV Facility that helps with addiction recovery launches new after-hours program

1.7.22 | NPR Kids are back in school – and struggling with mental health issues

1.6.22 | WEWS-TV Telehealth services surge in Northeast Ohio during pandemic

1.6.22 | Findlay Courier Rising flow of alcohol raise concerns

1.5.22 | WKRC-TV Local police department hires community advocate to help connect people to resources