NewsNow - 10.01.2021

OhioMHAS Releases 988 Crisis Call Center Draft Implementation Plan

In recent years, Ohio’s behavioral health service system has focused on efforts to build local crisis capacity to develop, expand, and evaluate crisis care for adults, children, and families. At the federal level, Congress passed a bill in 2020 that requires all states to transition from the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number to a three-digit 988 number by July 16, 2022. Ohio brought together a diverse group of interested stakeholders to serve as the 988 Planning Committee and develop a plan for how 988 will serve as a front door to the state’s crisis care system that will be accessible by calling the easy-to-remember number. Find Ohio’s 988 Implementation Overview HERE.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) provides free, confidential support to people in suicidal, mental health, or addiction crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services received a grant from Vibrant Emotional Health, which manages the NSPL, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to work with Ohio’s existing NSPL call centers; experts in clinical care; people with lived experience of the behavioral health system; the 911 network; and leaders in needs assessment, technology, economic impact analysis and others to analyze and benchmark a system of care that will grow over the coming years as awareness of 988 increases.

To read more about the 988 Implementation Plan for Ohio, visit this link. Or check HERE for an Executive Summary of the 988 Implementation Plan. OhioMHAS and stakeholders will continue to develop this plan in the coming months and submit a final 988 Implementation plan to Vibrant on Jan. 31, 2022.

Ohio Awarded $54 Million in SAMHSA Grants to Strengthen Community Mental Health Centers

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration this week announced the distribution of $825 million funds to 231 community mental health centers (CMHCs) nationwide. The funding, which includes $54 million for 17 Ohio CMHCs, comes from the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement (CRRS) Act of 2021. CMHCs are community-based facilities or groups of facilities that provide prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation mental health services. This grant program will enable CMHCs to more effectively address the needs of individuals who have a serious emotional disturbance (SED) or serious mental illness (SMI), as well as individuals with SED or SMI and co-occurring substance use disorders.

Ohio grantees include:

Bellefaire Jewish Children’s Bureau (Shaker Heights) | $3,983,509
Boundless Behavioral Health, Inc. (Worthington) | $1,000,000
Center for Families and Children (Cleveland) | $5,000,000
Child Focus, Inc. (Cincinnati) | $3,544,084
Child Guidance & Family Solutions (Akron) | $1,399,078
Family Resource Center of Northwest Ohio, Inc. (Lima) | $4,999,940
Firelands Regional Medical Center (Sandusky) | $1,265,494
Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services | $5,000,000
Harbor, Inc. (Toledo) | $4,536,118
Integrated Services of Appalachian Ohio, Inc. (Athens) | $2,102,141
Mental Health Services for Homeless Persons, Inc. (Cleveland) | $3,971,282
Murtis Taylor Human Services System (Cleveland) | $4,783,058
Portage Path Behavioral Health (Akron) | $2,342,532
Recovery Resources (Cleveland) | $1,746,181
Southeast Community Mental Health Center, Inc. (Columbus) | $3,781,166
The Buckeye Ranch, Inc. (Grove City) | $938,932
Unison Behavioral Health Group, Inc. (Toledo) | $3,636,219

Ohio Vax-2-School Coming Soon

Ohioans 12 to 25 years of age, who have received at least their first COVID-19 vaccination (at any time since the vaccines have been available), may enter for a chance to win one of five $100,000 scholarships and one of 150 $10,000 scholarships to the Ohio college, university, technical/trade school, or career program of their choice. Eligible Ohioans may register for the drawings starting Monday, Oct. 4, by visiting OhioVax2School.com or by calling the Ohio Department of Health Call Center at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634) between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.

National Medicine Abuse Prevention Month

Did you know that 20 percent of teens say they have taken a prescription drug without having a prescription for it themselves, and close to four percent report misusing over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine to get high? Help raise awareness of the dangers of OTC cough medicine and prescription (Rx) drug misuse this October during National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month (NMAAM). Take part in the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Dose of Prevention Challenge, which promotes community engagement through a variety of virtual events and activities. The deadline to enter is Nov. 5. Prizes include a $1,500 cash award for the winning coalition, a full scholarship to CADCA's 2022 National Leadership Forum and more.

Mental Health America Live Panel Event on the Future of Work – Oct. 6

In recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week, Mental Health America and PBS are partnering to co-host a live, panel event Shaping the Future of Work: Enhancing Mental Health in the Workplace at noon on Oct. 6. The program will examine the challenges and responsibilities employers face in taking care of their employees’ mental health, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and focus on how organizations can create supportive and psychologically safe workplaces — and sustain the benefits for the long-term. The session will be moderated by Taylor Abram, director of Workplace Mental Health for MHA, and features panelists from Microsoft, HOT TOPIC, Mental Health Connection, and CSDZ. This conversation is based on an upcoming PBS documentary series, Future of Work, which explores how the world of work—and the American Dream — is changing. This event will feature clips from the documentary’s accompanying digital series, which examines how the current economic and health crises are impacting long-term employment trends for entry-level and early career workers.

Let’s Talk About Caregivers and Mental Health Webinar – Oct. 8

Join the Caregiver Support Network and Bridget Britton, behavioral health field specialist, OSU Extension, for a free Let’s Talk About Caregivers and Mental Health webinar on Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. This webinar is geared toward caregivers who live in a rural setting, individuals who live/work on a farm, and anyone who wants to learn more about improving mental health in limited-access areas. The training will focus on self-care, how to stay connected when resources are limited, and the unique stressors of rural and agricultural communities. Click HERE for more information and to register. Questions? Please contact Laura Akgerman at 614.292.0622 or email akgerman.4@osu.edu.

NIMH Research Study: Depression, Repeated Doses of Ketamine, and Neuroimaging

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is seeking participants to join a study evaluating rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of repeated doses of ketamine. This 14-to-20-week inpatient study is enrolling eligible depressed adults, ages 18-65, who are free of other serious medical conditions. Procedures include 10 infusions of low-dose ketamine (an FDA-approved anesthetic), two infusions of placebo, brain scans, EEG, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and psychological evaluations. The study will be conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. There is no cost to participate and compensation is provided. This study enrolls eligible participants from across the U.S. Travel arrangements are provided and costs are covered by NIMH (arrangements vary by distance). For more information, call 1-877-646-3644 (TTY: 1-866-411-1010) or email: moodresearch@mail.nih.gov.

SAMHSA to Launch New “Office of Recovery” to Expand Its Commitment to Recovery for All Americans

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is launching an Office of Recovery, within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to advance the agency’s commitment to, and support of, recovery for all Americans. September marks National Recovery Month, and in organizing this new office, SAMHSA will now have a dedicated team with a deep understanding of recovery to promote policies, programs, and services to those in or seeking recovery. Learn more.

REMINDER: OhioMHAS Website Launching Oct. 8

On Oct. 8, 2021, we will launch a newly redesigned site that is built with our customers in mind. Using focus groups, testing, and data, we have a new navigational structure designed to enhance the experience of the wide variety of people visiting our website. The layout of the site is modern and will work well on a desktop, phone, or tablet. Website visitors will enjoy an experience that is smooth and standardized with other state agencies.

If you would like to get a preview of the newly redesigned site, join us for a webinar on Oct. 7 at noon. At that time, we’ll preview the new site and show you how to navigate to the most popular information. Register here.