Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) staff presented at the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties 2024 Behavioral Health Summit held this past Monday in Tiffin. The event brought together state and local leaders to discuss priorities, hot topics, and promising programs in the behavioral health space.

OhioMHAS Chief Advisor Tia Marcel Moretti (inset photo) welcomed attendees and provided an overview of the agency’s focus areas, including hospital access, crisis services, and Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS). Michelle Allison-Smith, Crisis Systems Administrator discussed Ohio’s ideal crisis continuum, while 988 Administrator Doug Jackson highlighted the growing awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

This is the second time the MHRSB held a Behavioral Health Summit; it was previously held in 2022. 

Pictured above (l-r): Michelle Allison-Smith, Doug Jackson, Tia Marcel Moretti, and SSOW MHRS Board Executive Director Mircea Handru.

The Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network (OGTN) is a virtual system of counseling providers available to those affected by problem gambling or gambling disorder. For Ohioans with limited mobility and/or no local access to clinicians specifically trained to provide care for problem gambling concerns, the OGTN is a phone call away. The Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network is a program of the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio, based on a competitive grant funded by OhioMHAS and is part of the Ohio for Responsible Gambling system of care for prevention, treatment and recovery for individuals and families affected by negative gambling consequences. Services are at no cost to the client or family. To learn more, visit www.OhioGTN.org or call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1.800.589.9966 to talk with a trained specialist or request a referral.

Members of the OhioMHAS State Opioid and Stimulant Response (SOS) grant team recently attended the Area Agency on Aging Region 9 Opioid and Stimulant Response Conference in Cambridge. The conference, which was supported by SOS grant funding from OhioMHAS, focused on the intersection of opioid use disorder and stimulant use disorder and co-occurring conditions including mental illness, chronic pain, and cognitive decline among older adults. Click HERE to view the conference agenda. 

Pictured (l-r): Ashley Kerr, SOS Project Director and Terri Davis-Stuckey, SOS Project Lead.

Ohio Peer Recovery Organizations (OhioPRO) this week  announced the launch of the new mobile application for Ohio’s certified peer recovery supporters. This project, supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA) and OhioMHAS, was first developed by OhioPRO’s Peer Advisory Group in 2022. The group championed to create an online community that serves as a safe space for peer recovery supporters to share ideas, resources, events, and encouragement with one another.

A pilot launch of the app took place at the 2024 Peer Recovery Summit held earlier this summer. During the Summit, OhioPRO's Program Director Megan Conkle led an information session for attendees on how to access and navigate the app, showcased its innovative features, and fielded questions.

All certified peer recovery supporters whose certification is in good standing will receive an invitation to join the app by the end of September. OhioPRO will host an information session for people who want to learn more about the app during its Sept. 26 September Lunch & Learn Virtual Training.

“We believe this mobile app will serve as another avenue to help Ohio’s peer recovery supporters continue to do life-changing work in their communities,” said Michael Krause, OhioPRO's Executive Director.

As summer comes to a close and kids and teens head back to school, Mental Health America (MHA) has announced  the launch of its 2024 Supporting Young Minds guides. The focus of this year’s materials is youth empowerment – how adults can support young people to help them feel empowered, and how youth can feel empowered to address their mental health and support each other.

MHA's materials include:

• Communications/messaging guide (including key messages, sample email/newsletter content, and social media assets)
• Resource guide (including crisis/MHA/partner resources, e-learning, and youth book list)
• For youth: Guide for supporting friends
• For educators: Guide for building classroom relationships and culture
• For educators: Guide for creating safe spaces

In recognition of September as National Suicide Prevention Month, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are hosting a livestream event on suicide prevention in health care settings on Sept. 11 from noon-12:30 p.m.

The event will cover:
•  Research supported by NIMH and SAMHSA on improving how we screen for and assess suicide risk and intervene in health care settings.
•  How to apply this research in clinical practice.
•  Ways to seek help for yourself or others.

Watch the live event on NIMH’s Facebook page or YouTube channel.