Commissioners proclaim May as Mental Health Month

At their April 29, 2020, meeting, the Lorain County Commissioners issued a proclamation for May as Mental Health Month for the County of Lorain.

SEE THE PROCLAMATION

If your city or civic group would like to join the effort to support each other’s mental health and wellness in May and beyond, please contact Clare Rosser at crosser@lcbmh.org to request a proclamation and Mental Health Month toolkit of online resources.

Many thanks to the Commissioners for promoting Mental Health Month.

The Commissioners’ proclamation reads as follows:

WHEREAS, mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and wellbeing; and 

WHEREAS, attention to mental health needs has never been more important than during this time of global change; and

WHEREAS, all Americans face challenges in life that can impact their mental health; and 

WHEREAS, prevention is an effective way to reduce the burden of mental health conditions; and 

WHEREAS, there are practical tools that all people can use to improve their mental health and increase resiliency; and 

WHEREAS, mental health conditions are real and prevalent in our nation; and 

WHEREAS, with effective treatment, those individuals with mental health conditions can recover and lead full, productive lives; and 

WHEREAS, each business, school, government agency, healthcare provider, organization and citizen shares the burden of mental health problems and has a responsibility to promote mental wellness and support prevention efforts; and

WHEREAS, the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County provides leadership and direction to local partners by planning, funding and monitoring community mental health and substance use needs.

THEREFORE, the Lorain County Commissioners, do hereby proclaim May 2020 as Mental Health Month. We call upon the citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses and schools in Lorain County to recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health, the steps our citizens can take to protect their mental health, and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental health conditions. 

Ohio announces Suicide Prevention Plan

Read Ohio’s first-ever, collaborative Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio, announced on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, by Governor Mike DeWine.

Ohio Suicide Prevention Plan

Strategy 1

All Ohioans will recognize the warning signs and risk factors of suicide and respond appropriately.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP MEET THESE GOALS LOCALLY:

Sign up for a FREE suicide prevention or Mental Health First Aid class on our training page, or request a free training for any Lorain County group or business by sending a request to outreach@lcbmh.org.

Request a FREE LockMed bag to store your medications safely by calling 440-282-9920.

Review this “Safeguard your home” brochure for helpful tips on a suicide-safer home.

Strategy 2

Ohio will concentrate efforts on integrating suicide prevention practices and suicide care, including postvention, into high-impact systems including health care, public safety, and education.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:

Join the Suicide Prevention Coalition, which has members from hospitals, schools, mental health and addiction providers, and others.

Join the CHIP: review the 2020-2023 Mental Health Priority of the Community Health Improvement Plan and contact Public Health to find a group that needs you!

If you work in health care, public safety, or education, send a request to outreach@lcbmh.org for a FREE training for your workplace, and help reach your workplace wellness goals by learning about suicide prevention.

Read the “Dos and Don’ts After a Suicide” tips for supporting others who have experienced a loss.

Strategy 3

Ohio will build suicide prevention capacity and infrastructure at the organizational, local, and state levels.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:

Subscribe to our e-newsletter to learn about opportunities as they arise.

Tell your friends and family members about the 440-240-7025 Navigator line, a helpful resource for people in Lorain County to find the right mental health service, the first time. For English and Spanish speakers.

Strategy 4

Ohio will concentrate prevention efforts on groups that current data has identified as being high risk for suicide, including:

• Youth, ages 10-24
• Males, ages 25-59
• Veterans and military members
• Residents of highest-risk Appalachian counties
• Community population focus as identified by local data

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:

Join the Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Encourage everyone you know to put the Crisis Text Line into the contacts list in their phone: 741741. It’s a great resource when a person is having a moment of distress and needs to talk it through with someone who knows how to help. Free, confidential.

For young people who have a mental health diagnosis or who struggle with suicidal thoughts, consider the notOK app as a resource to help them get through tough moments.

Strategy 5

Ohio will standardize, gather, and utilize data to continuously inform and evaluate its approach.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:

Join the Suicide Prevention Coalition.

“Voices for Recovery” 5K Family Run/1 Mile Walk date announced!

Save the Date for 15th Annual Lorain County’s “Voices for Recovery” 5K Family Run/1 Mile Walk, Saturday, September 26, 2020, in the Lorain County Metro Parks.

September will mark the 31st anniversary of the “National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month” to celebrate the positive impact of treatment for alcohol and drug use disorders in communities nationwide.

The recovery month effort aims to “promote the societal benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment, laud the contributions of treatment providers and promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders in all its forms.” During this time of significant impact of healthcare reform, the heroin epidemic, we need to come together to make a difference in Lorain County.

The main event will be a 5K (3.1 mile) family run or 1 mile walk through the beautiful Lorain County Metro Parks – Black River Reservation. The Course will begin at the Bur Oak Picnic Area. The Race will be followed by a picnic and prizes.

Other activities that day will be a children’s fun run and an awards ceremony. What better way to celebrate recovery than a family-friendly event that promotes health and fitness!

The race will be professionally managed and include: official timing, website registration, race results, official finish line set up, water stops, and runners bibs.

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest information.

Ohio Drug Overdose Report available

The Ohio Department of Health’s 2018 Ohio Drug Overdose Data: General Findings Report is now available HERE on the ODH website.

Key findings from the report include:

• In 2018, 3,764 people died of unintentional drug overdoses, a decrease of 1,090 compared to 2017 and the lowest number of deaths since 2015.
• Fentanyl was involved in nearly 73% of overdose deaths in 2018, often in combination with other drugs. That percentage was up from 71% in 2017, 58% in 2016, and nearly 38% in 2015.
• In 2018, fentanyl was involved in nearly 80% of all heroin-related overdose deaths, 74% of all cocaine-related overdose deaths, and 67% of all psychostimulant/methamphetamine-related overdose deaths. Carfentanil was involved in 75 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2018 compared to 1,010 in 2017.

• For the second year in a row, the population with the highest overall overdose death rate was among black non-Hispanic males (49.5 per 100,000 population) followed closely by white non-Hispanic males (48.1 per 100,000 population).
• The age groups with the highest overdose death rates were 35-44-year-old white non-Hispanic males (110.4 per 100,000 population), followed by 55-64-year-old black non-Hispanic males (108.8 per 100,000 population).
• The number of unintentional overdose deaths involving psychostimulants/methamphetamine increased 5% in 2018 while deaths involving all other drug categories declined.
• The number of overdose deaths involving natural and semi-synthetic opioids (e.g., oxycodone and hydrocodone) declined 42% from 2017 to 2018.
• Cocaine-related overdose deaths declined 29% from 2017 to 2018.
• Heroin-related overdose deaths declined nearly 28% from 2017 to 2018.

Holiday schedule for accessing services

Crisis resources are available year-round. If a person in Lorain County, Ohio, is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 9-1-1 or the hotline at 1-800-888-6161.

Non-emergency services also are available most days, but there will be a delay in response on some holidays. Please note the following:

Navigator non-emergency line (440-240-7025) will not be staffed on these holidays. However, callers may leave a voice mail at any time, and the call will be returned at the next opportunity:
Christmas Eve – Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Day – Wednesday, December 25
New Year’s Eve – Tuesday, December 31
New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1
Three Kings Day – Monday, January 6

Alcohol and Other Drug Services non-emergency line (440-282-9920), and the MHARS office (440-233-2020), will not be staffed on these holidays. However, callers may leave a voice mail at any time, and the call will be returned at the next opportunity:

Christmas Eve – Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Day – Wednesday, December 25
New Year’s Eve – Tuesday, December 31
New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1

2020 trainings announced | Attend for free!

Learn how to talk about mental health and addiction, with compassion and confidence. Take a free class.

The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County just announced the first of its 2020 learning opportunities — all free to people who live or work in Lorain County.

Register for any of the trainings at mhars.eventbrite.com.

01/17/20: Science of Addiction and Behavior in the Field (registration opens soon)
Part of the First Response Training Series. Speaker is Tom Stuber, President, CEO, The LCADA Way.

02/13/20 and 02/14/20: ASIST Certification Course
Attend these two days to achieve certification in ASIST – Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, at no cost to you. Requires no prior knowledge of mental health topics. CEUs available.

03/18/20 and 03/20/20: Mental Health First Aid Certification Course
Attend these two mornings to achieve certification in Mental Health First Aid – Adult at no cost to you. Requires no prior knowledge of mental health topics.

04/14/19 and 04/16/20: YOUTH Mental Health First Aid Certification Course (for adults who live or work with young people)
Attend these two mornings to achieve certification in Mental Health First Aid – Youth at no cost to you. Requires no prior knowledge of mental health topics.

MHARS 2019-2020 Community Plan Approved by State

On September 17, 2019, Lori Criss, Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) issued an approval letter accepting the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) of Lorain County 2019-2020 Community Plan. Pursuant to sections 5119.22(G) and 340.03(A)(1)(c) of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), an OhioMHAS-approved plan is a required element for Board eligibility for state and federal funding.

The plan contains:

• needs assessment
• community plan priorities
• collaborations
• interaction between state hospitals, private hospitals and/or outpatient services and supports
• continuum of care service inventory

The plan is available here.