NewsNow - 11.17.2021

OhioMHAS Prevention Office Releases Strategic Plan 2021-24

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Office of Prevention Services is dedicated to the vision of All Ohioans promoting healthy, safe, and resilient communities. To achieve this, OhioMHAS partners with the state’s behavioral health and related organizations to build a workforce that is capable of sustaining community-based prevention strategies and growing the use of evidence-based practices rooted in the science of prevention. The recently released Strategic Plan establishes a roadmap for providing expansive, strong infrastructure and support that has the capacity to sustain the future of effective prevention in Ohio. OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss added, “Our Office of Prevention Services plays an essential role in carrying out our vision of ending suffering from mental illness, substance use disorders and problem gambling for Ohioans of all ages, their families, and communities.” Click HERE to read more about Ohio’s Prevention priorities, strategies, programming and alignment with the strategic plans of the Governor’s offices of RecoveryOhio and the Children’s Initiative, as well as the OhioMHAS Strategic Plan 2021-24.

New Online Treatment Connection Portal Launches in Northeast Ohio

OhioMHAS, in partnership with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s Recovery Ohio initiative, this week announced that TreatmentConnection.com, a public online portal that enables people to anonymously self-screen and seek mental health and addiction treatment for themselves or others from nearby providers, is now available to residents of Northeast Ohio through the Behavioral Health Connection (B-CON), an online behavioral health service registry and referral platform. The new portal is available to residents in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Portage, and Summit counties. B-CON and Treatment Connection are part of a larger effort in Ohio to provide people with serious mental illness and addiction, and their family and friends, with resources to help them connect to treatment and care in their communities. Though the portal is initially being rolled out to residents in seven northeast Ohio counties, OhioMHAS anticipates extending the resource statewide as part of the Department’s ongoing commitment to promoting greater access to behavioral health care services. Click HERE to view a public service announcement and HERE to read the full press announcement.

Ohio School Safety Center Releases Bulletin for Suicide Prevention in K-12 Schools

In 2018, suicide was the leading cause of death among Ohioans 10-14 years of age and the second leading cause of death among Ohioans 15-34 years (Ohio Department of Health, 2019). This bulletin highlights some of the prevention and intervention resources made available by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and partnering agencies to assist schools with helping students in crisis and implementing school suicide prevention programs. Many educators want to know how to respond to students experiencing suicidal ideation. Bookmark this webpage and read about how to identify practical steps. For Immediate Help: The resources listed are available 24/7 to assist with response efforts. These resources should be shared with Ohio’s schools, families and students.

FY22 RFP: Strengthening and Sustaining Ohio’s Suicide Prevention Coalitions Initiative

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation and its partners are proud to present two coalition development opportunities through the Strengthening and Sustaining Ohio Suicide Prevention Coalitions Initiative (SSOSPC). Ohio suicide prevention coalitions are invited to submit their applications by Dec. 6, 2021, at noon. Selected coalitions will receive a stipend of $5,000 for participation in either the Community Coalition Action Theory Study Group or the Transformational Leadership Study Group. Click HERE for more information on the SSOSPC Study Groups, and to download the RFPs. All questions regarding this opportunity should be emailed to RFP@ohiospf.org.

Reminder: Ohio Vax-2-School Offers Multiple Scholarships to Vaccinated Ohioans Aged 5-25

Ohio Vax-2-School is a public outreach campaign consisting of a series of statewide drawings to increase awareness of the availability and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and provide incentives to younger Ohioans to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Make sure you are entered by visiting OhioVax2School.com today. Ohioans 5 to 25 years of age who have received at least their first COVID-19 vaccination (at any time since the vaccines have been available) can now 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. Drawings for $10,000 scholarships will be held Nov. 22 and Nov. 29 and drawings for the grand prize $100,000 scholarships will be held Dec. 2. Registration deadlines are Nov. 21, Nov. 28, and Dec. 1. All winners will be announced Nov. 29-Dec. 3. Ohio Vax-2-School is an opt-in program. Ohioans can register for the drawings 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. Individuals who entered Ohio’s Vax-A-Million drawing must re-enter into Ohio’s Vax-2 School drawing. Entries from the Vax-A-Million drawing do not roll over. For more information, follow the official Ohio Vax-2-School Twitter page and Instagram page and check for updates at OhioVax2School.com.

Cuyahoga ADAMHS “Coping with the Holidays” Booklet

The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County has published a Coping with the Holidays as the Pandemic Continues booklet to offer suggestions on things like how to reduce stress, deal with loss or change, and enjoy the holidays safely and on a budget. In addition, the booklet includes local, state and national resources for individuals who find the stress of the holiday season and/or the pandemic, too much to handle. Click HERE to download a print version of the booklet.

In the News

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11.17.21 | SpectrumNews1 Pediatric health experts declare children’s mental health a national crisis

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11.16.21 | Columbus Dispatch (Column) Support, hope exist for young adults struggling with mental health

11.16.21 | Columbus Dispatch Gift to create mental health program at Ohio State personal for Schottenstein family

11.16.21 | WOIO-TV Y-Haven addiction recovery group welcomes recoverees on stage for Cleveland theatrical program

11.16.21 | Scientific American Expanding mental health care is a medical necessity

11.16.21 | Marietta Times Oriana to host community open house

11.16.21 | NBC News Cannabis use during pregnancy linked to mental, behavioral issues in kids