Rep. Grim Announces $6 Million to Kickstart Ohio's 9-8-8 Crisis & Suicide Lifeline Public Awareness Campaign

COLUMBUS- State Rep. Michele Grim (D-Toledo) Monday announced that the Controlling Board approved $6M to develop, create, and implement a statewide public awareness campaign for the 988 Crisis and Suicide Lifeline in Ohio. The 988 hotline saw 12,000 contacts per month in its first year, which was funded exclusively with one-time federal dollars. Yesterday’s approval includes both state GRF funds and a federal mental health block grant.

“The funds approved Monday support the type of projects that make life changing differences for Ohioans. Programs such as the 988 hotline, the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program, and the Store It Safe program, among the many other programs funded, will create a measurable positive impact on Ohioans day-to-day lives. These put the citizens of Ohio first, no matter who you are, and I look forward to continuing to champion similar projects,” said Rep. Grim.

Some other items approved by the Controlling Board include:

• $135k to promote safe storage of medication, alcohol and guns through the Store It Safe (SIS) quality improvement program.
• $1M for temporary nursing services at Ohio Veterans Homes.
• $2.5M to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution via the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program.
• $3.7M to design the state’s first large-scale treatment plant for acid mine drainage (AMD), a major environmental issue, in order to address the largest single source of AMD in Ohio.
• $5.3M to support the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS), including state efforts to reduce unintentional overdose deaths.