Highlights from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Harding Hospital and the STAR Center of Excellence
We hope that everyone is staying safe and well during these challenging times. The Ohio State University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and Harding Hospital are working hard to adapt to the changing landscape while continuing to serve our patients in the best ways possible. We have also used this time to engage in deep-dive strategic planning to chart a future path with a clearer focus on our purpose, our people, our community and our path forward.
Our Purpose
Our steadfast mission is to improve and save lives by responding to the mental health needs of our community. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and we are committed to doing all that we can to combat the suicide epidemic that has been devastating our state and our nation. Please join us on Tuesday, Sept. 29, for our annual Suicide Prevention Conference. This year’s CEU/CME virtual event will explore innovative discoveries pertaining to high-risk populations in our society. Visit our site for more information and a listing of our expert speakers.
Our People
It is our pleasure to announce that Craig Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, has joined our faculty as the Stress, Trauma, Adversity And Resilience (STAR) professor. Previously, Dr. Bryan served as the executive director of the National Center for Veterans Studies. He is a world-renowned suicide prevention researcher and has received over $15 million in grant funding to support his work. Results of his research indicate that certain treatments and interventions can reduce suicide attempts by up to 76% as compared to usual mental health treatment. Learn more about Dr. Bryan’s innovative work in the suicide prevention field.
Our Community
We would like to give special thanks to Rick Milenthal, CEO of The Shipyard marketing company and one of our outstanding community supporters. During the recent pandemic, Rick and his team generously dedicated internal resources to produce the podcast Voices of Resilence. It includes interviews with some of our Ohio State leaders including Drs. Luan Phan and Ken Yeager.
Shipyard Managing Partner David Grzelak and his wife, Elizabeth, are dedicating their lives to helping families navigate mental illness. In 2018, they established the David Roy Grzelak II Memorial Fund to honor the memory of their son. The Grzelak Fund supports new initiatives of the STAR Program that provide suicide prevention, education and emotional assistance for families during the time immediately after their child or loved one has been discharged from the hospital.
Our Path Forward
In the coming months, you will be hearing more about planning underway for a new STAR Center of Excellence that will serve as the community-facing arm of our department and hospital. It will be home to innovative research where we will bring scientific rigor to the study of resilience. Until then, we look forward to continuing to partner with you to improve quality and access to mental health services in our community and beyond.
Sincerely,
K. Luan Phan, MD
Professor and Chair
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Amanda Lucas, MBA, MEd
Executive Director
Harding Hospital
If you have questions about the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, the STAR Center for Excellence or Harding Hospital, please contact Holly Kastan, director of Community Education and Outreach at Ohio State Harding Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.
If you would like to make a donation to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, please contact Michele Gregory, executive director, Medical Center and Health Sciences Colleges Advancement.