Agency directors, including OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn (pictured above) were on hand in the morning to welcome visitors and highlight resources available for people looking for support in their own communities. Attendees were also encouraged to visit the RecoveryOhio pledge site and “Take the Pledge to End Stigma” in support of mental health and substance use awareness and to visit state agency booths to learn more about services and supports. 

Ohio 988 Administrator Doug Jackson (pictured inset) talked about the importance and value of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline during a special performance by the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir. The group performed a selection of inspiring and hopeful songs. 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released the results of the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which shows how people living in the U.S. reported their experiences with mental health conditions, substance use, and pursuit of treatment. This year marks the first year since 2020 in which there are at least four years of comparable data for key NSDUH outcomes to enable reporting of trends.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine this week called on the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) to remove prop bets from the list of legal bets that can be placed under Ohio's contractual rules for operators. The Governor’s request comes after Major League Baseball (MLB) announced it placed two Cleveland Guardians pitchers on leave related to a “sports betting investigation.” The Governor also previously expressed concerns about prop betting following threats to collegiate athletes at the University of Dayton.

Governor DeWine also announced that he will be asking the commissioners and players unions of the six major sports leagues in the U.S. – MLB, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer – to support this effort to ban prop betting to ensure the integrity of their leagues.

Clear Pathways has released a new Crisis Response Brief that provides strategies for bringing 911/988 interoperability to scale. “Bringing 911/988 Interoperability to Scale” is the second in a three-part series. During the Crisis Response Pilot, Clear Pathways collaborated with five Ohio sites. Each site worked to develop or expand warm transfer criteria from 911 to 988. While creating these criteria, Clear Pathways staff identified several opportunities to enhance 988’s support for 911 callers. Staff developed recommendations for sites to scale 911/988 interoperability and develop a coordinated system. The brief shares challenges, recommendations, and anticipated benefits for communities seeking to develop a coordinated system of care for 911/988 interoperability.

The Ohio Substance Use Disorders Center of Excellence (SUD COE) at Case Western Reserve University's Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences has released a schedule of trainings for August. Click the links below for more information and to register. Check out the SUD COE training calendar for a full schedule of free trainings and events. 

Aug. 4 | Motivating Behavior Change (virtual)
Aug. 5 | Engaging People in Conversations About Change (virtual)
Aug. 6 | Motivating Behavior Change (in-person, Butler County) 
Aug. 25 | Engaging People in Conversations About Change (virtual)
Aug. 29 | Motivating Behavior Change (virtual) 

Additional Resources to Explore:
•  Treating Opioid Use Disorder during pregnancy and the postpartum period
•  SUD 101 Core Curriculum

Riveon Mental Health and Recovery (formerly known as The Nord Center and The LCADA Way) will host its Third Annual Mind over Miles 5k Run and 1 Mile Walk on Sunday, Aug. 10 at Black River Landing, 421 Black River Lane in Lorain. Lorain County community partners, walkers, and runners will come together to support Riveon's treatment, advocacy, and prevention services that include adult behavioral health, child and adolescent behavioral health, crisis services, sexual assault services, residential and housing services, prevention and problem gambling, substance use disorder treatment, primary care, and women's health services. All registered participants will receive a T-shirt featuring this year's design and refreshments will be waiting for them at the finish line.

PreventionFIRST! will host the 2025 Coalition Academy from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Sept. 17 at the Hilton Midtown – Cincinnati. This year's theme is "Staying Anchored in Prevention." The Academy provides learning opportunities for prevention professionals, public health and treatment professionals, mental health providers, coalition members and community leaders, youth-serving organizations, school personnel, and parents and caregivers, among others. Workshops will focus on a variety of topics, including advocacy, artificial intelligence (AI), mental health and well-being, school-based mental health, sustainable prevention tactics, and more. Cost is $50 for PreventionFIRST! member coalitions, and $75 for general registration. CEUs have been applied for. Questions? call 513.751.8000, ext. 14 or email jlee@prevention-first.org.

NAMI Greater Cleveland and NAMI Geauga County will host their 2025 fundraising walk from 9:00-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Edgewater Park in Cleveland. The walk route is 2.5 miles. For more information, call Lisa Dellafiora at 216.875.0266, ext. 106 or email ldellafiora@namicleveland.org.