Ohio Mental Health
& Addiction Services
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services provides leadership for high-quality mental health and addiction, treatment, and recovery services. It operates regional psychiatric hospitals and coordinates with local alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health boards, as well as other providers.
ARCH has partnered with OMHAS for the last few years to promote education and outreach concerning the stigma of addiction and mental health.
Below are some of the projects we've created together.
Let's Talk About Stigma
During the pandemic, VOAN partnered with OMHAS to host a series of Coffee Talks about addiction and stigma. This series was particularly important because it took place during the pandemic, where isolation heightened mental health struggles.
Faith in Action |
Advent Series
In 2020, we invited viewers to consider how their faith community can take the next step bringing hope to neighbors struggling during this historically difficult time. One way is to have overdose reversal drugs on hand for anyone who needs them. This is a practical way to save lives, and something faith communities can do to extend compassion and love to all those who are suffering. We are continually addressing stigma which prevents people from seeking help for mental health or substance abuse, and congregants from giving help.
The series included theological reflection from local faith leaders, practical information on what is transpiring today, personal testimony on how the local church has helped or hurt, and opportunities for churches to move forward and help save lives.
Faith in Action
Faith in Action Advent Series | Love on Action: Extending Grace and Compassion to All
Faith in Action Advent Series | Love on Action: Extending Grace and Compassion to All
Faith in Action Advent Series | Theological Reflections: Harm Reduction and Naloxone
Faith in Action Advent Series | Bearing Witness: Addressing Stigma of Mental Health and Addiction
Justice
Cafes
The Justice Cafe is a monthly performance and community event providing a night of sober entertainment, social connection, and art for people in recovery and others whose lives have been affected by addiction at every kind and at every level. Each cafe is curated to bring together musicians, signers, poets, local organizers, painters, filmmakers, cartoonists, journalists, etc. Most who participate are either sober themselves or their lives have been touched by addiction. These 90-minute gatherings are open to everyone, filled with positive energy, focused on hope, yet clear-eyed about the challenges that people with addiction face. Aside from the performances, virtual attendees are given opportunities to interact in our virtual 10-minute “table talks.” Especially during the COVID lockdown, The Justice Cafe has become an extremely popular event for people in recovery, folks who tend, more than than is the norm, toward isolation.
