ODMH, Cuyoga County partner on short-term mental health treatment plan

The Ohio Department of Mental Health announced yesterday that it will partner with the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyohoga County to develop short-term treatment units for individuals in a psychiatric or substance abuse crisis (Source: "Coping with a drug, mental health crisis? Cuyahoga County gets $1.8 million to help," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 6, 2012).

The goal of the $1.8 million project is to reduce emergency-department use among those with psychotic-like symptoms. Advocates point out that not only are EDs more costly, but they also typically release patients after 23 hours.

"What we are attempting to do here is to demonstrate whether there are positive budget and clinical outcomes that can occur," said Tracey Plouck,  director of Ohio Department of Mental Health. "Intuitively, we think the answer is yes."

Along with ODMH and the ADAMHS Board, nonprofit mental and behavioral health agency Connections and University Hospitals, The Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth System and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center have all indicated that they will participate in the project.