State By StateOhio

  • NAMI-OHIO and the Ohio Department of Mental Health sponsored an October 7, 2009 showing of MINDS ON THE EDGE at the Capitol Theatre in the Riffe Center, in Columbus. Remarks by MINDS participant, Dr. Fred Frese, Sandy Stephenson, Director of the Ohio Mental Health Department and Jim Mauro, Executive Director of NAMI Ohio added to the screening event. The audience included elected representatives and other State government officials.
  • Greater Cincinnati Health Council presented two screenings of MINDS ON THE EDGE on February 4, 2010, which attracted an audience of 65 and on February 24, 2010 when 25 people attended. Both events were followed by a discussion facilitated by MINDS panelist Dr. Tracey Skale, chief medical director for Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCB).
  • Jon Ramos, Program Coordinator, Ohio Coordinating Center for ACT reports:
    Both events were great successes and the screening proved extremely valuable. There was some very rich discussion at the conclusion of MINDS ON THE EDGE. Many of the questions and comments were focused on how to get the word out and how to effectively support change in the mental health and criminal justice systems. It was agreed by many that the first step to change is education, which is exactly why we held these two events in the first place. All attendees were strongly encouraged to go to the website and explore the tools and resources related to this DVD/project. Our hope is that, through these events, more people will be motivated to facilitate positive change through education and exposure. The media project MINDS ON THE EDGE has been, and will continue to be, extremely valuable as a catalyst for system change and in helping mental health consumers achieve recovery.
  • The Cincinnati Human Relations Commission is using the DVD as a training tool in a mentoring program for individuals 18-25 years old with mental illness who also are offenders.
  • WCET, Cincinnat recorded and featured an interview with MINDS panelist Dr. Tracey Skale on their local public affairs television program. The interview was posted online. WCET promoted their October 6, 2009 MINDS ON THE EDGE airdate along with Dr. Skale's interview everywhere possible. http://www.cetconnect.org/OnlineVideo/LifelongLearning.aspx
  • NAMI-MANSFIELD in Richland County screened MINDS ON THE EDGE for 170 people at Ohio State University on October 22, 2009. The viewing was followed by a panel discussion that included Ohio Senate President, Bill Harris; spokesperson for State Representative, Jay Goyal, Bridgette McDaniel; State Representative, Margaret Ann Ruhl; Mansfield Municipal Court, Judge Jerry Ault; Mansfield Police Chief, Phil Messer and mental health professionals. The large audience included nursing students, psychology and sociology students from the college as well as members of the public. The importance of the project was reported in an article in the Mansfield News Journal in which Richland County Probate Judge Philip Mayer stated, "For the last 100 years, mental illness has had a low priority because of the stigma."
  • Mary Kay Pierce, the NAMI-MANSFIELD Executive Director reported:
    It was a wonderful opportunity to discuss the barriers to care that still face our families. The tool kit was an excellent supplement to the DVD. NAMI Richland County is now working on a follow-up seminar for attorneys in the community.
  • WVIZ, Cleveland aired MINDS ON THE EDGE October 11, 2009. The website and phone number of NAMI Greater Cleveland was posted throughout the show.
  • Ellen Riehm, the Community Education Coordinator for NAMI GC, reports:
    This exposure resulted in increased call and website traffic for us. I found that MINDS ON THE EDGE provided insight into the multi systemic pitfalls we face in trying to treat mental illness and I thought the hypothetical approach was very engaging. We continue to receive requests from individuals and agencies interested in obtaining the DVD. I sent both WVIZ and WCPN (NPR) a thank you letter and now we are also working with them on additional mental health programming they are doing in January. They have also asked us to assist with a phone bank they are doing in case a caller is in need of emotional support or resources. It's great that they are looking at NAMI as a resource for them and to be able provide them with support. Thank you again and best wishes for future success with the Minds Project!
  • WCPN, the Cleveland NPR affiliate, broadcast an interview on October 9, 2009 with MINDS ON THE EDGE panelist Dr. Fred Frese about his experience as a panelist on MINDS ON THE EDGE (rebroadcast on October 11).
  • The Mental Health and Recovery Board in Ashland County showed MINDS ON THE EDGE as part of a Board of Directors training session on November 8, 2009. It generated a lot of interest and lively discussion. Sixteen Board members attended. There was a second screening for the staff. The Recovery Board also plans to make the program available to other groups in the community.
  • In Alliance, Mt. Union College and the Division of Social Sciences of Mount Union College will screen MINDS ON THE EDGE on March 17, 2010 at the Mount Union Theatre, followed by a panel discussion of experts in the field of mental health:
    • Dr. Frederick Frese, Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board
    • John Aller, Executive Director of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Stark County
    • Lon Herman, Director of the Best Practices in Schizophrenia Treatment Center (BeST Center) of the Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM)
    • Jane James, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness
    • Dr. James Karpawich, Mount Union Lecturer of Forensic Psychology
    • Kathy Moore, Cuyahoga County Public Defender's Office
    • Dr. Jamie Capuzza, Mount Union Professor of Communication will serve as moderator.
  • NAMI-Akron plans to show MINDS ON THE EDGE in their 12-week family support course "Family to Family."
  • In Toledo, Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital is screening the DVD for their weekly meeting of family members of people who are seriously mentally ill.