COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Public Health Fund of Ohio (PHFO) has awarded a total of $350,000 to seven suicide prevention coalitions across the state, announced Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D., MBA, on Friday.
The coalitions in Cuyahoga, Darke, Hamilton, Highland/Pike, Licking, Logan, and Lucas counties each received $50,000. This funding is designated for suicide prevention strategies and approaches aimed at assisting youth and young adults ages 10 to 24.
The Public Health Fund of Ohio, established in July 2020, supports ODH’s mission to advance the health and well-being of all Ohioans and also aligns with ODH’s State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP).
“The Ohio Department of Health is pleased to see these grants awarded, ensuring that our state’s young people will have more opportunities to get the help they need,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D., MBA, chairman of the PHFO board. “ODH looks forward to the fund being used to advance other essential programs that will improve the health of Ohioans.”
These seven coalitions will be eligible for a second grant of up to $50,000 in late 2024, with funding based on data measures from ODH. Coalitions are encouraged to use strategies and approaches promoted in the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation’s Plan and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Suicide Prevention Resource for Action.
These resources emphasize the importance of strengthening economic supports, lessening harms, and preventing future risk, improving access and delivery of suicide care, identifying and supporting those at risk, creating protective environments, teaching coping and problem-solving skills, and promoting healthy connections.
“Our youth represent Ohio’s future, and we want to ensure that those in crisis can get the help they need to live healthy, productive lives,” said Kara Wente, Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. “These grants will ensure that more young people get that help.”
PHFO is a supporting organization of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and is managed by the HealthPath Foundation.
For more information about PHFO, visit https://www.publichealthfundohio.org/.