In 2023, more than 1,700 Ohioans died by suicide. It remains the second-leading cause of death among youth ages 10–14 and young adults ages 20–34. The new toolkit provides practical resources to help change these outcomes by raising awareness, recognizing warning signs, and connecting people to care.

The toolkit was developed through a statewide collaboration among RecoveryOhio, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, and NAMI Ohio.

The toolkit includes:

• Support and training resources for workplaces, faith communities, veterans, and       underserved populations.
• Downloadable fact sheets, videos, and links to mental health resources.
• Tailored messages for youth, parents, older adults, men, veterans, and first               responders.

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Toolkit is free and available to all. Community organizations, schools, and businesses are encouraged to access and share it widely to support prevention efforts throughout the state.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call, text, or chat 988
for free, confidential, 24/7 support.

“All children deserve the chance to live up to their full, God-given potential,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Supporting Ohio’s mothers, whether they are recovering from addiction or finding treatment, gives them an opportunity to start a new chapter in their lives and support their kids.”

Providers in 31 counties will use the funds to serve an estimated 8,500 Ohio families with evidence-based, family-centered care. Funded through the Women’s Treatment portion of the federal Substance Use Block Grant (SUBG), the awards will assist in removing common barriers to care by funding programs that provide integrated services for both mothers and their dependent children. Services may include:

• Behavioral health treatment
• Medication for substance use disorders
• OB/GYN and pediatric care
• Primary care coordination
• Therapeutic services for children

“These investments are a step forward in addressing the unique challenges women face in addiction and recovery,” said OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn. “With these funds, we can expand access to the most compassionate care during a particularly vulnerable time and help thousands of women reclaim their lives, strengthen their families, and build healthier futures.”

Since 1989, National Recovery Month has promoted recovery and celebrated the resilience of those in recovery. In support of this mission, OhioMHAS and RecoveryOhio have partnered to provide a free digital toolkit for communities to increase public awareness of recovery, dismantle the stigma around mental health and addiction, and provide resources for those in recovery. The toolkit includes digital resources, social media shareables, and Governor DeWine's proclamation. 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also shared its national 2025 Recovery Month toolkit. Please join us in celebrating those in recovery and encouraging others to begin their own journey of recovery!

The Ohio Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Steering Committee has announced the release of three new resources aimed at fathers, grandparents/kinship caregivers, and schools/educators. These new resources were developed in partnership with the Ohio Department of Aging, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Development, and the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood. Click the links below to view and download. These materials can also be accessed on the OhioMHAS FASD page or on the FASD Prevention Hub. 

FASD Indicator Card for Schools and Educators
FASD Indicator Card for Grandparents/Kinship Caregivers
FASD Prevention Card for Fathers

The stops were the third and fourth of the listening tour, with plans to continue the tour until all six catchment areas have had the opportunity to provide their input prior to the roll out of a pilot program. This program would be reflective of the collaborative effort between all six areas across the state to create a best practices approach to providing crisis care to adults in Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Medicaid Office of Behavioral Health Policy has released an updated Behavioral Health Provider Manual ("BH Manual"). Ohio Medicaid's BH Coding Workbook has also been updated to reflect changes from the BH Manual. All resources are available online at Manuals, Rates, and Resources | Medicaid (ohio.gov).

The Ohio School-Based Health Alliance has released the first-ever, statewide School-Based Health Center (SBHC) Impact Report and Video, highlighting the growing reach and contributions of Ohio’s network of SBHCs. These resources showcase how SBHCs are moving the needle on student health, improving education outcomes, and providing services and supports that strengthen families and communities throughout Ohio.

Inside these new publications, you’ll find:

• An overview of the landscape of Ohio’s SBHCs
• Stories on the power of SBHCs from healthcare providers, school administrators, and community members
• The latest data on the breadth, utilization, and impact of SBHCs

Be sure to also check out the Alliance’s updated 2024-2025 SBHC Census map and report to see where SBHCs are located across Ohio. Census data includes SBHC location and operational information, such as populations served and services provided, as well as utilization metrics.

Mental Health America (MHA) has released its latest report, Workplace Mental Health in 2025: Trends and Best Practices of Top Employers, which offers insights and examples from leading organizations that strategically invest in employee well-being. In 2025, MHA awarded 360 employers with the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, the nation’s top certification for U.S. employers committed to creating mentally healthy workplaces.

Relink.org will present Facing Fentanyl: What Every Adult and Teen Needs to Know From a Doctor's Perspective on Aug. 26 at 2:00 p.m. This session will be presented by Beth Weinstock, M.D. a primary care physician and grieving mother who founded BirdieLight in 2021 with the mission to educate young people about the dangers of accidental fentanyl ingestion. Dr Weinstock will delve into the loss of her son Eli to an accidental overdose, and how she transformed loss into a national effort to center drug adulteration in conversations between educators and young people, as well as between healthcare providers and young people. She will present her fentanyl curriculum similarly to how she presents to young people in high schools and colleges, and then reserve time for a deeper dive into more complex data and conversational mechanisms for providers to use with their clients. Questions? Email info@relink.org.

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 

Ohio Citizen Advocates for Addiction Recovery (OCAAR) will host a free, virtual From Survivor to System Shifter: Peer Leadership Development course Aug. 27 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. The course will be presented by Jody M. Bell (CPRS, CFPS, CPRS-S), a Certified Peer Recovery Supporter with Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare. The presentation will highlight the unique value peer recovery supporters bring to systems of care. 

In recognition of Overdose Awareness Day, On Our Way Home, Inc., is partnering with the Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board to host A Time to Remember, A Time to Act community event on Aug. 31 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the Butterfly Wellness Park in New Richmond. The event will feature resources, personal testimonies, a prayer table, refreshments, and giveaways.  

The Substance Use Deflection Initiative housed in NEOMED’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence will host a virtual From Trends to Action: Addressing Xylazine and Medetomidine in the Field technical assistance (TA) session on Sept. 15 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. Xylazine and Medetomidine in the drug supply are creating new challenges for overdose prevention and public health, including increased overdose risk, complicated reversals, and severe wounds requiring specialized care. Deflection and outreach teams are encountering these substances more often and must adapt strategies to meet emerging needs. This session will feature speakers from research, public health, and harm reduction who will share the latest data, response strategies, and practical wound care approaches. Questions? Email amorgan2@neomed.edu.

The Appalachian Ohio Suicide Prevention Alliance will host the 5th Annual Appalachia Ohio Suicide Prevention Conference on Sept. 17 from 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center in Cambridge. This year's theme is "From Country Roads to Conference Rooms: Rooted in Culture. United in Prevention."

This annual gathering brings together partners from across the region to address suicide prevention through the unique cultural lens of Appalachian Ohio. Since launching in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference has grown from a six-county virtual event into a regional movement focused on honoring Appalachian identity, educating professionals, and uplifting grassroots prevention efforts. Cost is $35 and includes breakfast, lunch, and continuing education credits. 

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.

In recognition of September as Recovery Month, several Southeast Ohio Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health boards and community partners are hosting a free Appalachian Stories of Resilience & Recovery Summit, a day of storytelling and connection highlighting the recovery journeys of individuals in this part of the state.

The event will be held simultaneously at multiple locations throughout the Appalachian Region on Sept. 25 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Summit host locations include OhioMHAS’ regional psychiatric hospital Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare, Ohio University – Zanesville, the University of Rio Grande, Shawnee Family Health Center, and the Tower Event and Conference Center. The summit is free, but space is limited at some locations.

Dr. Mark Hurst will provide keynote remarks. The Summit will also feature a screening of the Southeast Trauma-Informed Care Collaborative's (SETICC) new documentary film It Stops With Me. 

The Ohio Children's Alliance will host its 2025 Symposium on Oct. 14 at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville–Polaris Hotel. The Symposium is a one-day, solutions-driven experience that brings together a curated group of cross-sector leaders for collaborative problem-solving around the most urgent challenges in child welfare and behavioral health. Click here to see the full agenda, speaker details, and to learn about sponsorship opportunities. Stay tuned to https://www.ohiochildrensalliance.org/symposium for updates and registration information. 

This fall, Signature Health will be offering a 2025 EMDR Training Cohort for those looking to become Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trained. EMDR therapy is one of the most researched and utilized methods in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other forms of human distress connected to trauma and adverse life experiences. Whether your goal is to become an EMDR therapist as a specialty, or integrate EMDR into your existing practice, this training program will help you meet your goals.

Signature Health's EMDR therapy training program curriculum and main presenter, Jennifer Dugan, are approved by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) and includes: 20 hours of lecture, 20 hours of practicum, and 10 hours of consultation. Cost is $1,493.50.

Training dates include:
Part 1 | Oct. 17-19 — 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (in-person, Kirtland)
Part 2 | Dec. 5-7 — 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (in-person, Kirtland)
Consultation | Nov. 12, Dec. 10, Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 4 (Virtual)