Since the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health issues among youth in Ohio have worsened, mirroring a national trend. A 2022 survey revealed that one-third of Ohio students faced anxiety, while over 100,000 high school students reported symptoms of depression.
However, there is a positive development. Ohio now has more mental health resources in schools compared to seven years ago. The number of partnerships between community behavioral health centers and schools has more than doubled since 2017, according to the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Service Providers. Over the past year, the state has seen a 20% increase in schools offering mental health services.
Teresa Lampl, executive director of the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Service Providers, views this as progress. “Kids spend a lot of time in school,” Lampl said. “It’s an ideal setting to provide services, connect with parents, and address their needs.”
Expansion of Care Options
Community behavioral health centers offer mental health and substance use services regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Last school year, over 3,000 Ohio schools utilized these centers for counseling, preventive screenings, and crisis intervention. These centers have also developed programs to teach students coping skills.
“They help create a supportive culture in schools and ensure that students acquire social-emotional learning skills necessary for academic success,” Lampl explained.
This increase in partnerships is largely due to heightened awareness of mental health issues among children. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a statewide push to enhance mental health services in schools, noted Cricket Meehan, director of the Ohio School-Based Center of Excellence for Prevention & Early Intervention.
“There’s now a significant focus on school mental health issues,” Meehan said. “This emphasis has led to many more collaborative partnerships, which is exactly what’s needed.”
State Investments in School-Based Care
Since 2020, Ohio has significantly invested in student mental health. Last year, the state legislature established the Student Wellness Fund to support schools in providing comprehensive services. Additionally, COVID relief funds were used to research effective methods for delivering mental health care in schools.
Meehan highlighted the success of adding staff members who act as liaisons between classrooms and community mental health services. “Our education and mental health sectors don’t always communicate effectively,” Meehan said.
Governor Mike DeWine has also announced substantial funding in the past two years to create or expand school health care centers, which integrate various health care professionals into schools.
Workforce Challenges
Despite these improvements, accessing mental health care remains challenging due to a shortage of professionals. Lampl pointed out that full-time employee vacancies at community behavioral health centers increased by 11% between the last two school years. This shortage could hinder the centers’ ability to support Ohio schools effectively.
“Long waiting lists for mental health care mean that by the time individuals receive help, their symptoms often worsen significantly,” Lampl said.
She hopes that having more mental health professionals in schools will increase their visibility and inspire more young people to join the field. “It is life-changing and life-saving work,” Lampl added.
