NewsNow - 09.09.2021

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is pleased to join Governor Mike DeWine, RecoveryOhio and our other partners in raising awareness on this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. There are an average of 131 suicides each day in America. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Ohioans ages 10-34 and the fourth leading cause of death among Ohioans ages 45-54. Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide, and Black men have the fastest growing suicide rate. The most recent data compiled in Ohio indicates more than 1,800 Ohioans died by suicide in 2019, or five people every day, and suicide now accounts for 65 percent of the state’s violent deaths.

Suicide is preventable, and the State of Ohio is committed to the goal of reducing suicide until not one life is lost. That work includes reducing stigma, promoting education, and increasing awareness of resources and programs to lessen the risk of suicide. The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio is a statewide effort to guide Ohio’s suicide prevention efforts, developed by a diverse group voices across the state - most importantly those of affected families and suicide survivors – to mobilize our work to support the mental health and wellbeing of every Ohioan.

Additional Resources:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.TALK (8255)
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, Option 1
Ohio Crisis Text Line: Text the keyword 4HOPE to 741 741
Ohio CareLine: 1.800.720.9616
https://suicideprevention.ohio.gov/
https://mha.ohio.gov/Families-Children-and-Adults/Suicide-Prevention
https://www.ohiospf.org/
https://heyimhere.org/
https://www.withyouhere.org/
https://bepresentohio.org/
https://afsp.org/
https://www.sprc.org/
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/promote-national-suicide-prevention-month/

Ohio Organizations Receive $1.37M in SAMHSA Grants

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) extends its congratulations to the following Ohio organizations that have received notice of awards for funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:

Case Western Reserve University | $122,805 – Mental Health Awareness Training Grant ( SM-21-007)
Portage County (Kent) | $125,000 – Mental Health Awareness Training Grant (SM-21-007)
Mercy Health-St. Vincent Medical Center (Toledo) | $199,323 – EMS Training Grant ( TI-21-005)
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital | $921,476 – Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (TI-21-008)

Courageous Conversations With Ohio Men – Sept. 14

The Ohio Men’s Action Network (OHMAN) and the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) will present Courageous Conversation with Ohio Men: Using Art and Social Media to Influence Social Change on Sept. 14 from 10-11:30 a.m. This free presentation, which features Mekka Don, Josiah Johnson and Nick D’Andrea, is part of the OHMAN Healthy Masculinity Campaign – ‘Know Better. Do Better. Be Better.’ This gender-based violence prevention campaign is geared toward creating and supporting communities where all people can live free of violence within their homes, relationships, and communities. For more information, email Glenn Harris at glennh@odvn.org or call 614.781.9651 ext. 234.

Ethics in Prevention Foundations Course

The Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network is hosting a six-hour, asynchronous virtually moderated Ethics in Prevention Foundations: A Guide for Substance Misuse Prevention Practitioners course from Sept. 20-Oct. 1. This training explores the six principles of the Prevention Code of Ethics, brought to life with realistic examples designed to enhance participant understanding. The course also introduces a decision-making process to help practitioners apply this code to a variety of ethical dilemmas, and an online discussion area to facilitate discussion with other course participants. Click the link for more information and to register. If the course is full, join the PTTC mailing
list for upcoming dates and registration links.

Fifth Annual Ashland County Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk – Sept. 26

The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County will host its fifth annual Suicide Prevention & Awareness Walk on Sept. 26 from 1:30-4 p.m. at the Ashland University Convocation Center. This year, the free event will take place in-person and virtually. The walk is being held in conjunction with the Silent Watch veteran suicide awareness initiative. Click the links for more information and to register. Follow this event on social media using the hashtag #AshlandWalks4Awareness.

In the News

9.9.21 | Columbus Dispatch Black kids are twice as likely to die by suicide, Nationwide Children’s study finds

9.8.21 | The Beacon Overdose Awareness Day spotlights Ottawa County opioid crisis, deaths

9.8.21 | WKYC-TV More ‘safe spaces’ created in Northeast Ohio schools

9.8.21 | WTOL-TV Radio personality shares his story of mental health struggles in hopes of saving lives, inspiring others to seek support

9.8.21 | The Lantern Ohio State to host events and training for suicide prevention

9.7.21 | The New York Times Veterans struggle with issues that are often invisible to others

9.7.21 | Ohio Northern University ONU Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week ’21 to include impactful public events

9.7.21 | Dayton Daily News Dayton racino having record revenue year. What role pandemic has played.

9.5.21 | New Philadelphia Times-Reporter Shortage of counselors, social workers affecting behavioral health services

9.5.21 | Scioto Post Pickaway County Commemorates International Overdose Awareness Day

9.5.21 | Portsmouth Daily Times International Overdose Awareness Day marked in Portsmouth