How to Contact DBH Constituent Services:
Email: ConstituentServices@dbh.ohio.gov 
Bridge Line: 614.466.7228

Please note: The Bridge Line and the email inbox operate 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except state holidays, and are not for emergencies or crises. If you or a loved one are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, please call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

The Ohio Youth Led Collective, with support from DBH, is conducting a statewide survey to better understand Ohio youth-led prevention programs. Your perspective is essential to helping us identify opportunities and grow youth-led efforts across the state.

By completing this seven‑minute survey, your responses will help build a clearer picture of the resources available to young people and pinpoint areas where additional support, training, or connection may be needed. Your insight will directly shape future initiatives that empower youth and strengthen prevention programming in Ohio. 

The deadline to complete the survey is May 8. Questions? Email Sarah Sawmiller at ssawmiller@prevention-first.org. 

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation (OCCRF) recently announced the launch of its new Mental Health Toolkit for Employers, a comprehensive resource designed to help businesses across Ohio better support the well-being of their workers. The free resource was developed with the support of Alkermes, Bon Secours Mercy Health, Cigna Healthcare, and The Ohio State University.

“Mental health is not just a personal issue, it’s a workforce and economic issue,” said Ohio Chamber President and CEO Steve Stivers. “Employers can have a direct impact on the mental health of their workforce, and this toolkit gives them the materials they need to support their employees and strengthen their businesses.”

The toolkit includes:
•  Targeted resources to support high-risk and underserved employee populations
•  HR tools and policy templates to help businesses implement effective MH strategies
•  Training materials to help employers recognize and respond to mental health challenges
•  Connections to service providers to improve employee access to care
•  Best practices and case studies from Ohio employers

“This is about giving employers actionable solutions,” said Stivers. “When businesses invest in mental health, they see real returns in the strength and stability of their workforce.”

The Ohio Chamber Research Foundation will continue to expand the toolkit and work with employers, service providers and community partners to ensure it remains a relevant and effective resource for businesses of all sizes.

MHFA is an evidence-based training program administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that teaches individuals how to identify, understand, and respond to mental health and substance use challenges. More than 4.5 million people across the U.S. have been trained in MHFA. Montgomery ADAMHS offers Adult Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings. In 2025, the board hosted 41 MHFA classes and trained 615 individuals.

“We are honored by this prestigious award,” said Chrissy Sanders, ADAMHS Interim Executive Director. “We know that our Mental Health First Aid training is lifesaving and ADAMHS continues to invest in quality, accessible MHFA classes for all in Montgomery County. I commend our staff for offering a robust training that is engaging, memorable, and impactful for everyone.”

The agency said in a press release that the change represents an important evolution to better reflect the work it does every day. "NorthStar represents direction, purpose and the belief that no matter how lost someone feels, a path forward is always possible," said J.B. Boothe, President and CEO. "Our new name reflects our commitment to guide individuals toward healing, hope, and lasting recovery. It's our unwavering commitment to our clients and the community."

For more information, visit www.NorthStarBH.org.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Overdose Prevention has launched the Clinical Drug Test Dashboard, a new interactive tool tracking trends in fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and polysubstance use among adults diagnosed with substance use disorders.

Powered by clinical urine drug test data from Millennium Health — representing more than 650,000 specimens collected between October 2023 and December 2025 — the dashboard offers national and regional visualizations updated quarterly. While the data reflect patients in treatment rather than the general population, the volume allows for faster detection of emerging drug use patterns than many traditional surveillance sources.

The tool is designed to support targeted, timely overdose prevention strategies at federal, state, and local levels.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released several new resources. The following papers are part of the Technical Assistance Coalition’s Refocus and Renew: Moving Towards Health series – a 10-paper collection guiding state leaders on SMI and SED treatment, recovery, and whole-person health. More papers from this series will be released on an ongoing basis.

Legal Tools Throughout the Behavioral Health Continuum
Back to the Basics: The Latest on Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders 

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 upcoming trainings. Click the links below for more information and to register. Be sure to visit the Center's calendar to view a full schedule of free trainings and events. 

May 5 | Women and SUD: Treatment Success and Barriers for Care
May 6 | Family Matters — Incorporating Family into Substance Use Treatment
May 6 | Overview of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for SUD
May 6 | Motivating Behavior Change
May 7 | Beyond the Birthdate: Treating Substance Use in Older Adults
May 13 | Ethics and Boundaries: Maintaining Professional Integrity
May 14 | Breaking Barriers: The History and Stigma of Medication-Based Recovery
May 14 | Foundations of Severe and Persistent Mental Health Disorders
May 18 | Resilience Focused Supervision
May 18 | Overview of Best Practices in the Supervision of Substance Use Providers
May 19 | Responding to Resistance and Focusing on Change
May 19 | Engaging People in Conversations About Change
May 19 | Unlocking Recovery: Medications and the Brain's Role in Addiction
May 20 | Stagewise Treatment: Tailoring Interventions to Readiness for Change
May 21 | Strengthening a Person's Own Motivation and Commitment to Change
May 21 | Foundations of Trauma Informed Care - Key Concepts and Core Principles
May 21 | Getting Started with Medications for Treating OUD
May 27 | Foundations of Stage-Wise Treatment
May 27 | Reinforcing Recovery: A Practical Introduction to Contingency Management
May 28 | Integrating OUD Pharmacotherapy into Clinical Practice
May 28 | Addressing OUD During Perinatal Period
May 28 | Implementing Contingency Management into Practice
May 29 | Women and SUD: Treatment Services and Barriers for Care

NAMI Ohio will hold its 2026 Youth Advocacy Day on May 6 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in downtown Columbus. The day will begin at the Plaza Hotel with a Youth Advocacy Brunch followed by the 20th Annual Resiliency Ring Rally at the Ohio Statehouse – North Plaza at 11:45 a.m. Featured speakers include DBH Deputy Director of Community and Family Resiliency Jenifer Fraioli, State Rep. Dontavious Jarrells (D-Columbus), State Rep. Jodi Salvo (R-Bolivar), and recording artist Heather Evans. Click HERE to watch a promotional video. 

Ohio coalition leaders are invited to join the Ohio Coalition Institute (OCI) on May 14 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. for an informational webinar. Participants will learn what’s new, how the OCI can help elevate your work, and how you can help shape the future of the initiative. Participants will have an opportunity to share insights about how the OCI can support all coalitions, regardless of stage of development, ensure their coalition is included in Ohio’s new coalition directory and their events are listed on the website. The webinar will also provide an overview about the new Coalition Operations and Management Learning Community and flexible learning stipend. Questions? Email OCI@ohio.edu.   

The Ohio Community Corrections Association (OCCA) will host its 2026 Annual Conference: Building a New Era of Community Corrections — Reimagining Reintegration and Recovery on May 14-15 at The Ohioan Hotel and Event Center in Lewis Center. The conference will feature keynote presentations from national award-winning journalist and author Sam Quinones and Dr. Patrice Palmer, restored citizen and tireless advocate for reentry opportunities for justice-involved individuals. The luncheon roundtable will address second chance employment, and the conference breakout sessions will focus on mental health, substance use disorders, and evidence-based practices that support successful reentry and recovery.

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF), in partnership with DBH, will host the Interfaith Conference on Suicide Prevention on May 15 from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Meekers Venue in Delaware. This statewide gathering, themed, "Building Hope Through Faith and Community," will bring together faith leaders, mental health professionals, and community advocates to advance suicide prevention efforts through faith-centered dialogue, collaboration, and shared learning. Dr. Melinda Moore, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Eastern Kentucky University, will provide keynote remarks. Dr. Moore, who has authored two books, including After the Suicide Funeral: Wisdom on the Path to Posttraumatic Growth, works at the intersection of faith and suicide prevention and will share her personal and professional insights into suicide loss and prevention.

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) will host a Collaborative Care: Strategies to Support Suicide Attempt Survivors webinar on May 19 from Noon-1:00 p.m. Drawing from real-world insights and survivor-informed approaches, this free session will highlight what helps individuals feel heard, supported, and empowered. This session will also highlight lessons from attempt survivor groups and how these insights can inform more responsive care systems.

The Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) Department of Psychiatry Coordinating Centers of Excellence and Peg's Foundation will present the 2026 Drs. Fred and Penny Frese Lecture in-person and virtually on May 20 from Noon-1:00 p.m. This year's event will feature professor, mental health services researcher, and community psychologist Nev Jones who will discuss how her lived experience has led her to be an advocate and top researcher in the world of schizophrenia. During her lecture, titled "The Lived Experience Voice: How Lived Experience Can Impact and Change Systems," Jones will share how lived experience can make an impact and have a voice to change and challenge systems with sociocultural determinants of mental health, psychosis-focused services, and health equity. The presentation is free and open to the public. Questions? Email bestcenter@neomed.edu. 

The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, in partnership with DBH and the Ohio Departments of Health and Rehabilitation and Correction, will host Ohio’s 2026 Mental Health and Addiction Conference: Inspiring a Stronger Tomorrow on June 1-2 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus. The 16th annual conference will focus on efforts related to mental health and addiction prevention, education, intervention, treatment, recovery, family supports, community engagement, and more. The conference will help advance the resources and knowledge essential for communities to provide support to those in need. Questions? Email Shelby Stutzman at sstutzman@oacbha.org.

The Center of Excellence for Prevention and Early Intervention at Miami University, in partnership with Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC), Miami University’s ASPIRE, Central Ohio and Greene County Educational Service Centers (ESC), and other committed community and statewide partners, are hosting the 2026 School SUCCESS Conference on June 10-11 at Eversole Middle School in Plain City. This year's theme is, "Stronger Together: Cultivating Responsive School Communities." The conference will feature more than 70 presentations and workshops and keynote remarks from Matt Eicheldinger, known as "the teacher who wrote it all down." Teachers, school administrators, counselors, social workers, community advocates, prevention professionals, behavioral health workers, and anyone who cares about young people are encouraged to attend. Cost is $25.

The Ohio Coaching and Mentoring (OCAM) Network will host its 2026 Conference on June 11 from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Marriott Columbus – Northwest. This year's theme is "From Insight to Action." As the prevention field continues to evolve, this year’s conference will highlight adaptive leadership, collaboration, and creative approaches that strengthen prevention work across communities. Through interactive sessions and shared learning, participants will gain actionable tools and strategies they can immediately apply. Cost is $50. Register by May 25. Questions? Email jlee@prevention-first.org.