NewsNow - 07.13.2022

>>> State of Ohio Ready for Transition to New, Nationwide 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Following 18 months of careful preparation, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is pleased to announce that Ohioans experiencing suicidal crisis, mental health or addiction-related distress will soon be able to call 988, an easy-to-remember three-digit number to access free, 24/7, confidential support for themselves or loved ones. The nationwide 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline goes live on Saturday, July 16. A national 988 public awareness campaign is not expected until 2023. OhioMHAS and the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have provided many resources to help Ohio communities understand the transition to 988 and communicate the change to residents:

Ohio 988 Fact Sheet

Ohio 988 FAQ

When to Call 911/When to Call 988

Local Partner Toolkit (logos and more)

Ohio 988 Lifeline Providers Coverage Map

OhioMHAS 988 Resource Page

>>> Upcoming enCompass Trainings for Families and Communities

RecoveryOhio and The Addiction Policy Forum have announced three additional enCompass Trainings for Families and Communities. enCompass: A Comprehensive Training on Navigating Addiction is a resource for family members who are trying to navigate the complex world of addiction and help loved ones achieve recovery. The guide includes basic definitions, as well as in-depth information about substance use disorders, treatment options, communication strategies, and self-care tips. This training and manual was created by Addiction Policy Forum staff in partnership with the RecoveryOhio Initiative in the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. The training was developed with an Expert Review Panel composed of prominent researchers and physicians in the addiction field. The guide was also crafted with support from the Family Support Advisory Committee made up of family members with lived experience. Upcoming virtual training dates include: July 26, Sept. 8, and Nov. 1.

>>> NIMH to Host Facebook Live Event on Youth Mental Health Crisis – Aug. 11

Many of the nation’s youth are experiencing increased stress and other mental health challenges, including symptoms of anxiety and depression. As children prepare to return to school, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is conducting a Facebook Live event on Aug. 11 at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the nation’s youth mental health crisis. NIMH Deputy Director Shelli Avenevoli, Ph.D., will cover topics such as the alarming rate of youth suicide, the effects of technology and the pandemic on the developing brain, and what the research says about supporting the mental health of current and future generations of youth.

>>> Light After Loss First Annual PostVention Convention – Aug. 12

Light After Loss will host its First Annual PostVention Convention on Aug. 12 at the Kent State University-Stark Conference Center in North Canton. The Convention is a unique, live hybrid event dedicated to assisting mental health clinicians to appropriately identify trauma and grief in and provide therapeutic support to suicide loss survivors. The PostVention Convention is open to licensed mental health clinicians, students, advocates, and community members interested in learning more about supporting those that have lost someone to suicide. Onsite attendees will be provided with lunch, access to a resource fair, and the ability to network with other attendees and speakers. Up to 5 CE’s for counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists are available (both onsite and virtual). Click the link above for more information and to register. Questions? Please contact Emily Ribnik, LPCC-S, at training@lightafterlossstark.org.

>>> Registration Now Open for OhioMHAS Director’s Summit – Aug. 30

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the OhioMHAS Director’s Summit scheduled for Aug. 30 at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris. The theme of our Summit is “Building a Healthy, Hopeful Ohio,” and we look forward to providing behavioral health stakeholders and advocates from around the state an opportunity to learn about Ohio’s evidence-based, promising, and best practices, as well as allow for collaboration with key staff from OhioMHAS. Our goal is to share information with the behavioral health field that will improve service delivery, help us better identify and understand barriers, and create opportunities to strengthen services, communications, and relationships between state and local partners. Note: At this time, the event will ONLY be held in person. There will not be a virtual option or recording offered post event. Click HERE to view an agenda and to register.

>>> PF! 2022 Coalition Academy – Sept. 13

Prevention FIRST! Will host its 2022 PF! Coalition Academy “Building Equity in Prevention,” on Sept. 13 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason. The Coalition Academy is an opportunity to raise awareness, address and champion the importance and need of equity in substance use/misuse prevention and promote mental wellness. Join us to learn & enhance skills to better identify and eliminate barriers that prevent the full participation of some groups. Mary Roary, Ph.D., director of the SAMHSA’s Office of Behavioral Health Equity will provide keynote remarks. Cost is $60 for general registration and $40 for PF! Member coalitions. Click HERE for more information and to register.

>>> At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits Available to Recovery Housing Operators

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is pleased to announce that at-home COVID-19 testing kits are still available for residents, staff, and operators of congregate behavioral health housing settings. The kits, which will be distributed by OhioMHAS in partnership with the Ohio Department of Insurance, Ohio Department of Health and county Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services boards, will be provided at no cost to congregate behavioral health housing settings for baseline testing purposes only. Baseline testing will help screen individuals for COVID-19 who may be asymptomatic or have been unable to obtain off-site testing for various reasons. Please reach out to your local county behavioral health authority to place an order. If your county board responds that they are not participating in the distribution process you may contact your local health department to place an order. If you have questions about how to access COVID-19 testing or other resources, please contact OhioMHAS at COVID19Housing@mha.ohio.gov. If you have questions specific to these testing kits and the eligibility, distribution and reporting please contact Kaitlin Waggoner at Kaitlin.waggoner@mha.ohio.gov or call 614.208.9777.

In the News

7.13.22 | WOSU 89.7 New ‘988’ suicide prevention lifeline launches nationwide Saturday

7.13.22 | WJW-TV Voice of Unity: Café serving up mental health

7.13.22 | Wilmington News-Journal Ohio ready for transition to new nationwide 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

7.13.22 | Greenville Daily Advocate Family Resource Center holds ribbon cutting

7.12.22 | WKRC-TV New suicide prevention lifeline number launches Saturday

7.12.22 | Lima News Telehealth counseling center opens in Wapakoneta

7.12.22 | WMFD-TV Dr. Kathryn St. James on Sparking the Conversation

7.12.22 | WOSU 89.7 OSU study provides first evidence of link between chronic pain and opioid use disorder

7.12.22 | Cleveland.com Cuyahoga County records 15 suspected overdoses in 4 days; county projected to reach 700 overdose deaths by end of 2022

7.11.22 | WLWT-TV Ohio to receive more than $2M in funding toward drug prevention programs

7.11.22 | WCPO-TV Mother of soldier hopes those in need use new suicide prevention lifeline she pushed for after son’s death