Coping with the Holidays Guide Available Online
Holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year for many, but it can also be stressful. There are many expectations surrounding the holiday season such as expensive gifts, spending time with friends and families during the pandemic, work parties, etc.
Here are some tips on how to cope with stress during the holiday season from our Coping with the Holidays Guide:
- Make time for yourself – Do something you enjoy, such as knitting, painting, or even just watching your favorite show.
- Make a list of everything you need to get done and prioritize each of them. When you start getting overwhelmed, work on the first thing on your “must do” list.
- Be around people who care about you – Having supportive friends and family around can help you in many ways.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help – Whether it be having your friends help wrap gifts or reaching out to a therapist, make sure to know your needs and acknowledge them.
- Don’t pressure yourself to buy everyone an expensive gift. Thoughtful, low-dollar gifts are perfect when you don’t want to break the bank.
- Take advantage of discounts and clearance items in stores. This is a great way to save money throughout your gift shopping.
Want more tips to beat stress, delicious recipes, and more resources? Check out the Coping with the Holidays Guide!
Happy Holidays from all of us at the MHARS Board of Lorain County.
If you need help this season, please reach out.
Text 4hope to 741-741 to talk to a licensed therapist without having to call. The line is open 24/7.
24-hour Crisis Hotline: 1-800-888-6161
By: Kaeli Moody
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New Board Member Appointed to MHARS Board of Directors
A new director has been appointed to the Mental Heath, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County. Marie Leibas was sworn in on December 16.
Leibas was appointed by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to serve on the MHARS Board of Directors. She has previously worked at Ohio Jobs and Family Services in Elyria, Ohio as a Data Entry Clerk for over five years. She currently is involved in the Lorain Historical Society, Lorain Proud, the Lorain Palace Theatre, and the Mexican Mutual Society. Leibas is extremely passionate about advocating for mental health and addiction issues.
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You Belong Kicks Off at December Event
The transition from elementary to middle school can be difficult for some students. You Belong is a youth-led initiative designed to support students through this transition. The project liaison, Mike Ferrer, works with adult mentors and students from participating schools with the support of the MHARS Board.
You Belong is designed to support schools interested in increasing the number of students that feel connected to peers and teachers with the understanding that increasing belongingness and decreasing the number of students who experience isolation and alienation, can reduce the risk of suicides. Further, You Belong provides an opportunity for youth to take a leadership role in creating a school climate in which every student understands that he or she belongs.
On December 6, students and mentors from each school involved in the initiative came together at the Spitzer Conference Center at Lorain County Community College for the You Belong Kickoff Event. At this event, roughly nine students from each school and their mentors participated in activities aimed at developing engagement and leadership skills. At the event, Ferrer and his team facilitated multiple activities to prepare students for their roles in You Belong.
The MHARS Board of Lorain County is providing financial support for nine schools this school year. The schools include:
- Longfellow Middle School (Lorain)
- Johnnie Wilson Middle School (Lorain)
- Southview Middle School (Lorain)
- Midview Middle School (Grafton)
- Brookside Middle School (Sheffield)
- Durling Middle School (Lorain)
- North Ridgeville Academic Center (North Ridgeville)
- Learwood Middle School (Avon Lake)
- Keystone Middle School (LaGrange)
By Kaeli Moody
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4,381.6 Pounds of Drugs Collected During Lorain County Drug Take Back Day
The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County partnered with local law enforcement and various community organizations to collect 4,381.6 pounds of drugs, including opioids, at National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 23. The Fall 2021 total surpasses the 3,883.7 pounds collected at the last Lorain County Drug Take Back event in April 2021.
“Lorain County continues to see the adverse effects of improper opioid use that lead to addiction,” said Michael Doud, MHARS Board Executive Director. “We can all do our part to curb substance use disorder by safely disposing of prescription drugs that could potentially be abused. I thank the many residents, volunteers and public safety personnel who made this event a success.”
Here is a breakdown of how much was collected throughout Lorain County by location:
| Locations | Pounds Collected |
| Amherst Police Department | 502 |
| Avon Police Department | 500 |
| Avon Lake Police Department | 225.6 |
| Columbia Fire Department | 76.4 |
| Elyria Police Department | 206 |
| Grafton Police Department | 177.8 |
| Kipton Police Department | 42.6 |
| LaGrange Police Department | 138.4 |
| Lorain Police Department | 276 |
| Lorain County Sheriff | 1150 |
| North Ridgeville Police Department | 361.8 |
| Oberlin Police Department | 425.4 |
| Sheffield Lake Police Department | 55.8 |
| Sheffield Village Police Department | 74.2 |
| Vermilion Police Department | 27 |
| Wellington Police Department | 142.6 |
| TOTAL: | 4,381.6 |
Residents who were unable to drop off on Drug Take Back Day may still bring their unused prescriptions for safe disposal to local police departments. All Lorain County police departments have receptacles for drop-off in their lobbies.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is led nationally by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
For more information about addiction, treatment and recovery, visit www.mharslc.org/recovery.
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MHARS Board Offices to Close Oct. 29 for Staff Training
Our offices will be closed on October 29, 2021 for an off-site staff training.
It is possible that some messages and voicemails may not be returned by staff until Monday, November 1.
Thanks!
Learn MoreRFQ Questions Answered
Below are the questions submitted as part of the RFQ for a project manager/owner representative for the Lorain County Crisis Receiving Center. The questions, as they were sent, are listed below in a bolded font.
- Has the site been selected or is acquisition part of the proposal? There are two (2) noncontiguous parcels owned by The Nord Center that has been identified as a possible location for the project. The parcel had a Phase 1 completed.
- Has any entitlement work been initiated? No. The City of Lorain is aware of the project.
- Has a site plan been developed?Preliminary plan created in 2018. Building concept has not been determined.
- Is it possible to extent the deadline for questions into next week?No
- There is a limit of (10) single sided pages, does this include all backup for experience and resumes of our team? Resumes are not part of the 10 pages. All other documents are part of the 10 pages.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is October 23
The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County is supporting the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 23 across Lorain County. In April 2021, Lorain County Drug Take Back events resulted in the collection of 3,883.7 pounds of prescription drugs.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., volunteers will provide free locking medication safes and other drug safety resources across the county at the locations noted below with an asterisk. At the locations listed without an asterisk, visitors can drop off their medications with law enforcement officers or other personnel for disposal. All are encouraged to clean out their medicine cabinets of potentially harmful drugs by safely disposing of them at this free, confidential annual event. The effort is led nationally by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Locations in Lorain County include:
- Amherst Police Department* at 911 North Lake St. 44001
- Avon Lake Police Department at 32855 Walker Rd. 44012
- Avon Police Department at 36145 Detroit Rd. 44011
- Columbia Township Fire Department at 25540 Royalton Rd. 44028
- Elyria Police Department * 18 West Ave. 44035
- Grafton Police Department* at 1009 Chestnut St. 44044
- Kipton Police Department* at 299 State St. 44049
- LaGrange Police Department at 301 Liberty St. 44050
- Lorain County Sheriff’s Office* at 9896 Murray Ridge Rd. 44035
- Lorain Police Department * at 200 West Erie Ave. 44052
- North Ridgeville Department* at 7303 Avon-Belden Rd. 44039
- Oberlin Police Department at 85 South Main St. 44074
- Sheffield Lake Police Department * at 609 Harris Rd. 44054
- Sheffield Village Police Department at 4340 Colorado Ave. 44054
- Vermilion Police Department* at 5791 Liberty Ave. 44089
- Wellington Police Department* at 117 Willard Memorial Square 44090
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
Learn MoreNew Board Members Appointed to MHARS Board of Directors
New board of director members have been appointed to the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County. Two members were appointed this week to the Board and one was reappointed earlier this month. More info about them and the appointing authority is below.
- Hope Moon (Lorain) – Moon was reappointed to serve on the MHARS Board of Lorain County in September 2021. She was appointed by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Moon is currently a Professor of Nursing at Lorain County Community College, and is a resident of Lorain. As an educator, her focus is to appropriately educate the workforce on addiction and mental health issues. She served as a nurse in the emergency department of the former St. Joseph/Lorain Community Hospital. Moon earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kent State University, a Master of Science from School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University, and ultimately, a Doctoral of Nursing Practice in Educational Leadership.
- Patricia Bell (Oberlin) – Bell was appointed by the Lorain County Commissioners to serve on the MHARS Board of Directors in September 2021. She was sworn in on September 28 at the board of directors scheduled meeting. Bell has nearly 20 years of experience working in the fields of mental health and addiction and is a registered nurse. She holds an associate degree from Lorain County Community College.
- Michele Flanagan (Avon Lake) – Flanagan was appointed by the Lorain County Commissioners to serve on the MHARS Board of Directors in September 2021. She was sworn in on September 28 at the board of directors scheduled meeting. She is a partner at the Westlake-based Comprehensive Behavioral Specialists LLC. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a therapist working throughout Northeast Ohio. Flanagan is a licensed social worker and professional clinical counselor. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Westminster College in Pennsylvania and her Master of Arts from the University of Akron.
“Our new board members bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge,” said Board President Dan Urbin. “I welcome them to the MHARS Board of Directors and look forward to working with them.”
Anyone interested in a board position should complete the application by clicking here. More information about requirements and about serving on the board is available by clicking here.
Learn MoreRFQ Issued for Project Manager/Owner Rep for Crisis Receiving Center
The Mental Health, Addiction & Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a project manager/owner representative for the Lorain County Crisis Receiving Center. To view the full RFQ, click here.
Respondents interested in being considered may submit questions by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 8, 2021. On or before 5 p.m. on Friday, October 22, 2021, Respondent shall deliver by mail or in person any qualifications, along with all materials and other items supporting any proposals, to the MHARS Board offices at 1173 North Ridge Rd. E, Lorain, OH 44055. If submitting materials in person, they must be delivered during normal business hours, Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Proposals received after this deadline will not be considered.
All proposals are to be prepared at the submitter’s expense. The MHARS Board reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, in whole or part, and accept any proposal which it deems favorable. The MHARS Board shall have no liability to any submitter whose proposal is not accepted. Acceptance of a proposal shall not constitute an Agreement between the submitter and the MHARS Board until a contract is negotiated between both parties.
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Sept 30: QPR Suicide Prevention Virtual Training
Talking about suicide can be difficult, for the person experiencing suicidal thoughts, or their concerned friend or family member. In fact, the difficulty is so great that people who are considering suicide often speak in “coded messages.” They might make indirect statements like, “You won’t have to worry about me much longer,” or “Everyone would be better off without me.”
QPR, which stands for Question Persuade Refer, teaches people to recognize suicide communications and actions, intervene safely and confidently, and connect the person in need to the right help. It takes abut 90 minutes to learn, and can help you save a life. Join us for this important virtual Zoom training on Sept. 30, 2021 from 9-10:30 a.m.
Register via Eventbrite by clicking here.
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