“Dani’s Place is a powerful step forward in realizing our goal of a comprehensive behavioral health system,” said OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn (pictured at right). “This facility will help close the gap in services, allowing individuals living with mental illness to heal with dignity and support. It will save lives and brighten futures for years to come.”

To strengthen recovery outcomes, the facility’s operator, Univision Health, will provide on-site staffing 10 hours a day, delivering clinical services alongside stable housing. OhioMHAS invested $7.7 million in state and federal funds toward the $10.4 million total cost of the project, underscoring the state’s commitment to expanding access to behavioral health care.

The center’s name honors Danielle “Dani” Leedy, who lived with depression, anxiety, body image concerns, and thoughts of self-harm throughout her life. Dani took her own life at age 33, but her family hopes her name will now be linked to healing and hope.

“We never wanted suicide to be her legacy because her life was worth so much more than that,” said her mother, Donna Heck. “Never in our wildest dreams did we think there would exist a mental health rehabilitation center called Dani's Place. It is divine intervention that this happened, and we are overwhelmed.”

With its combination of housing, clinical care, and compassionate community, Dani’s Place represents more than a facility—it stands as a testament to the power of partnership, the importance of accessible mental health services, and the enduring belief that recovery is possible.

Providers across Ohio are actively hiring for the state’s newly expanded Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS), which provides immediate help to children and young adults (20 and under) experiencing overwhelming mental, emotional, or behavioral distress.

To connect qualified candidates with these critical roles, OhioMHAS has launched a new MRSS Careers page, featuring open positions from all 12 Regional MRSS Providers (RMPs). Opportunities include regional clinical directors, case managers, peer support specialists, qualified behavioral health specialists, and more. Requirements vary by position and may include a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) credential, peer support certification, or a high school diploma/equivalent.

Governor Mike DeWine announced the statewide expansion of MRSS in April, a joint effort by the Ohio Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Medicaid to ensure youth and families have access to crisis care when and where they need it.

Picture it: Columbus, 1975. Two legends were leaving their mark at the Ohio State University: Coach Woody Hayes and Archie Griffin, who won his second Heisman Trophy that year. It's also the year the soon-to-be legendary Dr. Sitaben Parbhoo (pictured with former COBH Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Andrew Savageau) began working at what was then called the Ohio State Hospital. Now Central Ohio Behavioral Healthcare (COBH), Dr. Parbhoo is still there, an integral thread in its tapestry. However, she had never intended on becoming a psychiatrist.

"I developed so many allergies at my residency in pathology, and another intern suggested I wouldn't have to deal with as many surgical specimens," she explained. "So I interviewed with the medical director (at the Ohio State Hospital) and he told me I could come back when I finished my program at Grant [Medical Center]." Not knowing much about the field, Dr. Parbhoo took more classes, and leaned on the expertise of her colleagues, and learned to love psychiatry, even if at that time, behavioral health was an after-thought for medical students. 

"On my medical school exams, there were 12 questions. If you got 10 right, you could skip one. Most of the students skipped the psychiatry question," she said with a smile. 

Dr. Parbhoo has seen a lot of changes in 50 years, but said advances in medication have been the most significant. She said patients now respond better with fewer side-effects. She recalled one patient who was hesitant at first to change his medication, but after working with him for several months, he got on board and saw positive changes. Once withdrawn, he participated in activities and a vocational program, and later landed a job inside the hospital doing laundry and cooking, learning life skills that transferred beyond his treatment. 

Dr. Parbhoo said her career has been a good experience. She enjoys volunteering with community health centers and educating patients how to take their medications so they can be effective. With five decades under her belt, Dr. Parbhoo could have retired a while ago. "I did retire, but they keep calling me to come back again!" she said with a laugh. 

On Aug. 9, OhioMHAS staff participated in the African American Men’s Wellness Walk in Columbus with support from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Beta Omicron Sigma Chapter. Ronald Murray, OhioMHAS’ State Opioid and Stimulant Response (SOS) Project Director and the chapter’s Social Action Director, coordinated the efforts, led on-site engagement, and hosted a resource table.

The African American Men’s Wellness Walk is a signature Columbus event that mobilizes families, faith communities, and neighborhood groups around whole-person health. For local context, the 2023 Columbus event drew 30,000+ participants, with free on-site screenings reaching 1,124 men and 702 women, underscoring the scale and impact of this community effort. This work is strengthened by local partners and sponsors, including the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Franklin County Public Health, the ADAMH Board of Franklin County, and The James at The Ohio State University — collectively advancing health equity and helping residents access timely, culturally responsive care and supports.

The Ohio Children’s Alliance has released a groundbreaking new white paper, Best Practices in Community Behavioral Health Respite Care for Children and Families, which outlines a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening and expanding behavioral health respite services in Ohio. Developed in collaboration with researchers from The Ohio State University College of Nursing and funded by OhioMHAS, the report explores the critical role of behavioral health respite care in supporting families, preventing out-of-home placements, and improving youth outcomes. It offers actionable recommendations for expanding access, strengthening workforce development, and integrating respite care into Ohio’s system of care.

“This report is a call to action for Ohio to invest in behavioral health respite care as a core component of our mental health system,” said Mark Mecum, CEO of the Ohio Children’s Alliance. “Respite care helps prevent crises, reduces caregiver burnout, and supports youth in staying safely in their homes and communities. It is both a compassionate and cost-effective solution.”

The study, published Aug. 8, 2025, in JAMA Network Open, found that the app, OTX-202, reduced the recurrence of post-discharge suicide attempts by 58.3% among patients who had previously attempted suicide. This reduction is a critical achievement for a group that is particularly vulnerable to repeated suicidal behaviors, the researchers said.

Users of the app also experienced sustained reductions in suicidal thoughts for up to 24 weeks after psychiatric hospitalization, according to the study. In contrast, patients who used an active control app in addition to treatment as usual showed early improvement, but suicidal thoughts rebounded by week 24. These findings suggest that OTX-202 may help preserve long-term gains in mental health during the high-risk period following hospital discharge, according to the study.

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) has announced the launch of a new "Foundations of Lived Experience" video project that features pioneering leaders who helped build and grow the suicide-centered lived experience movement. Through their powerful insights, viewers will learn about the early efforts that laid the foundation for today's best practices and future directions for the suicide prevention field. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that it is updating opioid medication labels to emphasize the risks of overdose, death, and withdrawal, reflecting decades of lessons from the opioid epidemic. New warnings will highlight dangers of high doses and long-term use, while advising providers to prefer immediate-release opioids over extended-release forms except for severe cases. Labels will also caution against rapid dose reduction due to potential withdrawal and mental health risks, and include information on overdose reversal medications like naloxone. This move aims to improve patient safety and support informed, shared decision-making between providers and patients, marking a critical step in addressing the ongoing public health challenge of opioid misuse.

The P.E.E.R. Center has announced a new "Tuesdays with PEER's" training series for Ohio peer supporters. Click the links below for more information and to register. All sessions begin at noon. Questions? Email info@thepeercenter.org. 

Aug. 26 | Burnout Fatigue in Peer Support
Sept. 16 | Peers Supervising Peers
Oct. 14 | Beyond Boundaries
Nov. 18 | Breaking the Silence of Workplace Bullying
Dec. 9 | Advocate Like a Star 

BrightView Health will host a Nurturing Recovery: Navigating Treatment Challenges for Pregnant Patients webinar on Aug. 20 from noon-1:00 p.m. Join Dr. Greg Johnson, a BrightView Medical Director with extensive experience practicing obstetrics, as he calls out the myths and focuses on the unique considerations that treatment programs must consider when helping expectant mothers with a substance use disorder. Questions? Email info@brightviewhealth.com.

Franklin County Coroner Dr. Nate Overmire's Office is inviting members of the public to attend a free Overdose Awareness Storytelling Book Unveiling and Closing Art Reception on Aug. 20 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Selected pieces of the art exhibition "Shadow to Light: Breaking the Stigma Against Addiction" have been developed into a storytelling book to continue to share experiences to help others and save lives. The "Outlines of Hope: Stories in Lines and Color" reception will take place at 2090 Frank Road, Columbus, 43223. All are welcome.

The Ohio Substance Use Disorder Center of Excellence (SUD COE) at Case Western Reserve University has announced a series of free Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trainings for August and September. EMDR is an advanced clinical model that has been proven effective in treating trauma, mental health disorders, substance-related disorders, and somatic symptoms. EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which suggests that many mental health problems are caused by the brain not properly processing or storing upsetting or traumatic experiences. It uses guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess these traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact.

Upcoming training dates:
Aug. 25-29 (virtual)
Sept. 3-5 and 15-17 (virtual)
Sept. 8-12 (in-person) Columbus (location TBD)

Ohio Citizen Advocates for Addiction Recovery (OCAAR) will host the 2025 Recovering People's Convention on Sept. 9 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center. This free convention offers a space for Ohio's recovery community to gather and set the agenda for recovery-oriented policy in the state. The day will be filled with interactive policy and advocacy discussions. All recovery advocates are welcome — you do not need any prior advocacy experience to attend. Questions? Email Advocate@oca-ohio.org.

The Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion invites those working in youth vaping prevention to join it for an encore presentation of Community Resources for Supply, Demand, and Risk Reduction, on Sept. 10. This session will explore how prevention efforts can reduce youth vaping by targeting sources of access, the reasons youth start, and the needs of those most at risk. The discussion will encourage consideration of strategies across three key areas: reducing product availability through policy and enforcement, addressing root causes and building resilience, and tailoring supports for youth with greater vulnerability to vaping. CEs for Prevention, Social Work, and Health Education have been applied for.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Harding Hospital and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health will host the 2025 Suicide Prevention Conference on Sept. 11-12 at the Fawcett Center in Columbus. The conference is also available via Zoom for those who can't attend in person. This year's theme is "Building Bridges to Well-Being: Addressing Social Determinants to Prevent Suicide." Peter Na, MD, an addiction psychiatrist at VA Connecticut Healthcare System and assistant professor at Yale University, with degrees from Seoul National University and Harvard University, will provide keynote remarks. He researches psychosocial and environmental factors affecting substance use disorders and suicide, focusing on co-occurring psychiatric conditions and treatment approaches. Early bird registration ends Aug. 20. 

Governor Mike DeWine's RecoveryOhio initiative is partnering with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to host a Walk Into Wellness from 10:00 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Findley State Park in Wellington. The event promotes connection and self-care by encouraging participants to complete a variety of activities, including a guided nature hike, a visit to the Nature Center, disc golf demonstration, Storybook Trail, and mental health resource fair. Participants can also paint a "kindness rock" and visit with a therapy dog. Participants who note activities completed on the event postcard and mail by Oct. 4 will receive a certificate signed by Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel. 

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) will host its second statewide Health Policy Summit on Oct. 9 at The Event Center at Mitchell Hall on the Columbus State Community College campus. With a theme of “Prioritizing what works: A focus on policies with the greatest return on investment,” will highlight evidence-based strategies that improve outcomes for children, working-age adults, and older adults. Michael Gillette, Ph.D., founder, Bioethical Services of Virginia, Inc., will provide opening remarks on how leaders can develop an ethical framework for setting health policy priorities in a time of scarce resources. Early bird tickets are available. Continuing education credits will be offered upon approval.

The Ohio Program for Campus Safety and Mental Health (OPCSMH) is now accepting applications for its free QPR Instructor Training for Trainers (T4T) to be held on Oct. 10 at the University of Mount Union. This course is designed to equip members of Ohio's campus community with suicide prevention efforts specifically for pre-professional and professional students. The deadline to apply is Aug. 22. Questions? Email opcsmh@neomed.edu.

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) is sponsoring its Second Annual 5K Ruck/Walk for Veterans and First Responders on Saturday, Oct.11 at Veterans Park in Delaware. The event aims to raise awareness, foster community support, and raise funds for vital suicide prevention resources for those who have served our country and communities. Participants are encouraged to walk with weighted packs, symbolizing the daily emotional burdens that many veterans and first responders carry. Cost is $25. Children aged 13 and under can walk for free. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Questions? Email Jason Hughes, OCPSA, U.S. Army (Retired), at jason.hughes@ohiospf.org.