HPIO data brief explores child mental health in Ohio

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The Health Policy Institute of Ohio has released a new data brief titled “Mental Health Conditions among Ohio Children and Youth.” 
 
In recent years, rates of mental health conditions have increased among Ohio children and youth. As illustrated above, in 2023, a fifth (20%) of middle school students and a third (33%) of high school students in Ohio reported that their mental health was not good most or all the time.
 
Childhood mental health conditions are associated with an increased risk of chronic physical health conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease), continuing mental health problems and worse employment outcomes in adulthood.
 
The brief states, "Understanding this data, and engaging children, youth and their parents and caregivers, can lay the foundation for action and policy change."

The data brief is the first in a series of four planned HPIO publications on child and youth mental health that will be released over the next two years.