NEWS

The Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board Environmental Context, Social Determinants of Health, Disparities and Needs Assessment January 2023 report is available in text and pdf format at https://www.ashtabulamhrs.org/ashtabula-county-needs-assessment-2023.

If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help.  988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This dialing code will be available to everyone across

RESOURCES If you're worried about a man in your life, or someone you care about take an online, anonymous behavioral health screening at https://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/ashtabula-county-mhrs. Browse our website for Ashtabula County resources. https://www.ashtabulamhrs.org Starting conversations with men who are struggling may seem daunting. But getting them to open up can be easier with practice. Start a

Ashtabula County Mom shares her story about the impact of addiction on her family and how Ashtabula County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board provided the tools to help them break the cycle of addiction.

December Prevention Spotlight! Matt Butler-Kent State University, Ashtabula This month's Prevention Spotlight is one of our partners at Kent State University-Ashtabula. Here is what the Program Director of the Bachelor of Social Work Program, Matt Butler, has to say about his participation with the Ashtabula Co. Prevention Coalition: I've had the great honor to work with the Ashtabula County Prevention Coalition

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation teamed up with Canvaas Consulting to encourage those in the black community to share their stories and start a conversation about mental health wellness. We encourage you to visit the site, share your story, and share resources with others. For more information, visit https://lifeisbetterwithyouhere.org/ to learn how you can help.

Reframing Language- Why changing our thinking, actions, and language matters. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a medical problem, just like heart disease or diabetes. Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking, or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work, or family

Family Pride Senior Support Services There is no age limit on life. Let us help you make the most of it. At Family Pride, we help seniors maintain their independence, continue to be self-sufficient, and manage daily stress. Our services can be provided in the home and throughout the community. Senior Connections Fostering social connection Decreasing isolation and symptoms of

The Ashtabula County Prevention Coalition would like to highlight Ashtabula County Community Action Agency as this month’s Community Partner in Prevention. Ashtabula County Community Action Agency's mission is to help people achieve self-sufficiency and to rise above issues of poverty, offering help with housing stability, providing information on resources through 2-1-1 Ashtabula County, offering nutritional services for young children and

May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Helping Our Young Children It is important to talk to our children about their emotional health to help them understand their moods and feelings. There are simple ways to make this easy and part of our everyday conversations with our children. For example, help younger children name their emotions using simple words such as “I

May is Mental Health Month: Helping our older children and teens While it is important to talk early and often with our young children about emotional health, it is also important to continue those conversations as our children get older. Starting these conversations with our older children and teens may seem difficult. Here are some questions to start the conversation: What

Seniors and Older Adults: Tips for Preventing Suicide: We live in a world where people are living longer, which means the population of older adults is growing faster, too. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 6 people will be 60+ by the year 2030. Older adults are among the most vulnerable to suicide. The fact is, the rate

Prevention Partnership Spotlight This month we would like to highlight the Ashtabula Co. Educational Service Center (ESC) as our Prevention Partner. The Ashtabula County Prevention Coalition (ACPC) was founded under Janie Gildersleeve well over two decades ago when she saw the need to raise awareness about the substance use and mental health resources available in Ashtabula County. This led to the

Community Spotlight: Ashtabula County Suicide Prevention Coalition - The Ashtabula County Suicide Prevention Coalition is a group of compassionate volunteers with the mission of preventing suicide deaths in Ashtabula County. If you would like to be a part of this coalition, call the Ashtabula Mental Health and Recovery Services Board at (440) 992-3121. Learn more about

Ashtabula County is represented at the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities Opiate and Other Drugs Conference. The Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board presented at the Ohio Opiate and Other Drug Conference along with our colleagues at Ohio University, PIRE Institute, and Fairfield, Sandusky, and Seneca Counties around addressing the stigma associated with Substance Use Disorder in

In 2020, 94% of suicide deaths in Ashtabula County were men. Men are not indestructible. He may need your help. Get Support by Phone The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Skilled crisis workers answer incoming calls and will listen, provide support, and offer helpful resources to those in need.

Naloxone Saved My Life. Meet Daniel and hear the story of how naloxone, compassion, and harm reduction saved his life--literally. To learn more and how to receive free Naloxone visit https://www.ashtabulamhrs.org/free-naloxone/. Naloxone Saved My Life YouTube Video courtesy of University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Counterfeit Prescription Tablets Found in Ohio

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased stress at home, which directly impacts the emotional wellness of children who are also coping with disrupted routines, school closures, social isolation, and canceled events. As early as May 2020, parents and caregivers reported feeling that their children's mental and emotional health had been harmed by pandemic-related health measures. Left untreated, extreme stress

Substance Use in Ashtabula County - In 2020, Ashtabula County had 39 overdose deaths and 205 non-fatal overdoses. If you are concerned about a friend or loved one’s substance use, please call (800) 577-7849 for available resources.

When words are used inappropriately to describe individuals with a SUD, it not only negatively distorts societal perceptions of their illness but also feeds into the stigma that can prevent individuals from seeking help. Research suggests that aligning our language to describe addiction with the prevailing research improved outcomes for the individuals. Video courtesy of the Addiction Policy

The Ohio Tobacco Quit Line is free help for all Ohioans to assist in the process of quitting tobacco. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP TO QUIT, PLEASE CALL 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) OR VISIT SmokeFree at https://smokefree.gov or Become An EX at https://www.becomeanex.org/ Access the Local Cessation Provider Directory at https://ashtabulacountyhealth.com

COVID-19 has caused many individuals financial stress. Whether you’re just starting out or have been earning your way for quite some time, it’s never too late to learn about saving and improving your financial outlook. The Ohio Department of Mental Health has provided the following guide to financial literacy and education resources. The pdf Guide to Financial Literacy and Education Resources

What Are the Signs of Having a Problem With Drugs? Substance use can happen at any age, but it usually starts when a person is young. It’s the result of changes in the brain (https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/brain-and-addiction) that can come from drug use. Substance use affects how people think and what they do. But what exactly are the signs? First, it’s important to