Ohio CareLine Recognized With Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Foundation ‘Enlightenment Award’

The Ohio Psychiatric Physician’s Foundation (OPPF) has recognized the Ohio CareLine with its 2020 Enlightenment Award. According to an OPPF press announcement, the award “recognizes outstanding activity or presentations that: enhance the public’s access to treatment; enhances the public’s understanding of mental health and substance use disorders; and/or decreases the stigma often associated with these disorders.” Launched last April, the Ohio CareLine (1.800.720.9616) is a toll-free emotional support call service created by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) and administered in community settings. Mental health and substance use disorder health professionals staff the CareLine 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They offer confidential support in times of personal or family crisis when individuals may be struggling to cope with challenges in their lives. When callers need additional services, they will receive assistance and connection to local providers. Since launching, CareLine staff have fielded more than 5,200 calls. OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss accepted the award during OPPF’s Annual Meeting held virtually this past weekend. “The CareLine has provided hope and healing to thousands of Ohioans grappling with emotional distress and mental health needs amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Director Criss. “This is wonderful recognition for the teamwork that occurred within the department and in our communities to make help visible and easily accessible and to connect Ohioans to critical mental health services and recovery supports.”

Latest COVID-19 Fact Sheet Available

Click HERE to view the latest COVID-19 fact sheet. This edition includes important updates on vaccines, stats, trends, resources, talking points, and more.

 

RFP: 2021 Forensic Conference Planning and Management (MHA-FY22-MED-ForensicCon-01)

OhioMHAS has issued a request for proposals for a vendor to oversee conference planning and management of the 2021 Forensic Conference to be held in the Fall. All questions must be submitted electronically no later than 5 p.m. on April 5 to: MHAS-Forensics@mha.ohio.gov. Responses will be posted on the OhioMHAS Funding Opportunities web page. Proposals must be submitted to MHAS-Forensics@mha.ohio.gov by 5 p.m. on April 12.

Intersecting Pandemics: The Opioid Epidemic and COVID-19 -- April Webinar Series

The Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Siegal Lifelong Learning Program has announced a free, month-long lecture series that will examine how COVID-19 has impacted the opioid crisis in Ohio. Intersecting Pandemics: The Opioid Epidemic and COVID-19 will take place virtually on Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-noon throughout the month of April (April 6-27). For questions, contact Dr. Ravenel Richardson at researchtorecovery@case.edu. Topics include:

 

• April 6 | The State of Affairs: COVID-19 and the Opioid Epidemic in Ohio | Agenda and Registration

• April 13 | Treatment and Community Interventions for Opioid Use Disorder | Agenda and Registration

• April 20 | Public Health, Prevention, and Community Interventions | Agenda and Registration

• April 27 | COVID-19, Opioid-Use Disorder, and Criminal Justice Reform | Agenda and Registration

Ohio Children’s Alliance Annual Conference Call for Workshop Proposals Now Open

Ohio Children’s Alliance is now accepting proposals for the 45th Annual Virtual Conference scheduled for July 26-29. With the theme Transforming Care for Kids, workshops will focus on Advocacy and Public Policy, Best Practices in Child Welfare and/or Behavioral Health, Diversity and Inclusion, and Strategy, Innovation & Leadership. Click HERE to submit a workshop proposal. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 7.

Reminder: Ohio Prevention Conference Virtual Training Series

OhioMHAS and The Ohio State University College of Social Work are excited to launch this year’s Ohio Prevention Conference Virtual Training Series. Join us every Thursday through the end of June for a free prevention-focused training. Trainings will be focused around four themes: Trends in Prevention, Suicide Prevention, Prevention in the Face of a Pandemic, and Career Development as a Preventionists. Click the links below to register for one of our upcoming trainings or visit www.ohiopc.org to view the entire series.

• April 1 | 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | MMJ.THC.CBD.OMG. The Employer’s Challenge

• April 1 | 3-4:15 p.m. | The Missing Piece: Identifying Partner-Inflicted Brain Injuries as a Prevention Strategy

• April 8 | 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Vaping and COVID-19: Is There Something I’m Missing?

• April 15 | 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Factors Associated With Suicidal Ideation Among Transgender Individuals

• April 22 | 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Engaging the Firearm Community in Suicide Prevention

• April 29 | 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Reversing the Trend of Irreversible Actions: Teen Suicide Prevention

• May 6 | 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Suicide Risk in Uncertain Times

New SAMHSA Publications Counter Underage Drinking

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released a series of new resources targeting underage drinking. Click the links below to view/download the latest alcohol abuse prevention resources:

• After High School: Talking with Your Young Adult About Alcohol- This fact sheet informs parents how to effectively talk to their young adult about the risks of underage drinking.

• Be Prepared to Have the Difficult Conversation- This data visualization illustrates the correlation between alcohol use and other substance use to inform parents/guardians and communities.

• Take Action to Prevent Underage Alcohol Use- This data visualization illustrates the steady decline of alcohol use amongst adolescents, informing parents/guardians and communities that taking action against underage drinking is effective.

• Getting Ahead of a Problem- This data visualization illustrates the drinking habits of adolescents to inform parents/guardians and communities.

• Prevent Unsafe Drinking Behaviors on Campus- This data visualization illustrates heavy alcohol use and binge drinking statistics amongst college age youth to inform colleges and communities.

In the News

3.29.21 | New Philadelphia Times-Reporter Coroner: 2020 record year for overdose deaths in Tuscarawas County

3.29.21 | WOUB 91.3 Local medical community participating in NIH-sponsored opioid project

3.29.21 | WOSU 89.7 Drug use, overdose deaths increased during pandemic

3.29.21 | Steubenville Herald-Star Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board receives donation

3.28.21 | The Fan 97.1 Columbus Perspective: Feat. OhioMHAS Problem Gambling Treatment Coordinator Scott Anderson

3.27.21 | The New York Times Suicide and self-harm: Bereaved families count the costs of lockdowns

3.26.21 | Lima News How did youth fare in 2020? Mental health challenges, isolation