School-based mental health care increasing in Ohio following pandemic

As Ohio and the U.S. have seen in increased youth mental health challenges in recent years, the number of partnerships between community behavioral health centers and schools in Ohio has more than doubled since 2017 (Source: “Amid youth mental health crisis, Ohio school-based behavioral health services grow,” WOSU, Aug. 19).

A third of Ohio students reported challenges with anxiety, and more than 100,000 high school aged youth reported experiencing depression, according to a 2022 survey.

In the last year alone, the state has seen around a 20% increase in schools offering mental health services, according to a report from the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Service Providers. More than 3,000 Ohio schools enlisted help from community behavioral health centers last school year to provide counseling, preventative screenings and crisis intervention in the classroom.

Ohio has seen a spur of investments in student mental health since 2020. Last year, the state legislature created the Student Wellness Fund to help schools provide wrap-around services. And the state also used COVID relief funds to research the best ways to provide mental health care in schools.

HPIO's statewide Health Policy Summit will feature a breakout session with Nationwide Children's Hospital and Dayton Children's Hospital to highlight partnerships with schools to improve mental health and well-being among youth. The Summit will be held on Thursday, Oct. 3 in Columbus. To learn more, and to register, visit HPIO's website.