Our Work

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and as bird migration season hits its peak in Ohio, several HPIO staff members can attest to the mental health benefits of birding.

From mid-April to mid-May, Ohio experiences a sharp increase in birding activity as hundreds of species, including warblers, orioles, shorebirds, and more, complete their annual migration north across the continental United States. According to data from the Cornell Lab Birdcast, more than 8.1 million birds were in flight in Ohio on May 12 alone, as illustrated above.

Northwest Ohio is often called the “warbler capital of the world,” serving as a key stopover point for millions of migrating birds as they prepare to fly over Lake Erie. However, the high volume of birds flying over the whole state means that even backyards can have many tropical visitors, like the bright scarlet tanager or loud-calling Tennessee warbler.

Studies have shown that birdwatching is linked to increased psychological well-being on college campuses, that expert birdwatching can protect against cognitive decline and that experiencing regular encounters with birdlife is associated with improvements in mental well-being.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimates that there are 4.1 million wildlife watchers in Ohio, with bird enthusiasts comprising 91% of that total. In 2022, wildlife watchers in Ohio spent about $1.6 billion, according to ODNR. The Biggest Week in American Birding Festival, held in Oak Harbor, Ohio, attracts around 90,000 visitors from around the world each May.

HPIO’s recently released 2026 Health Value Dashboard found that Ohioans with disabilities are 3.4 times more likely than other Ohioans to report 14 or more mentally distressed days in a month. To promote access, the Audobon Society has created a Birdability Map, a crowdsourced tool that provides information on accessibility features of birding locations.

(Editor’s note: Avid HPIO birders Amy Rohling McGee and Brian O’Rourke contributed to this story)

Data included in HPIO’s recently released 2026 Health Value Dashboard shows that frequent mental distress is a driver of disparities in the rates of smoking and excessive drinking for LGBTQ+ Ohioans.

“Experiences of discrimination can increase stress and worsen mental health,” according to the Dashboard. “As a result, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Ohioans experience mental distress at much higher rates than other Ohioans.”

LGBTQ+ individuals are also more likely to use tobacco and alcohol to cope with mental health challenges and experiences of discrimination, according to research from the National Institutes of Health. Dashboard data shows that gay, lesbian and bisexual Ohioans are 2.6 times more likely than other Ohioans to report frequent mental distress and Transgender Ohioans are 3.5 times more likely.

The 2026 Dashboard includes spotlights on six Ohio populations that face the greatest barriers to achieving health: Asian Ohioans, Black Ohioans, Hispanic/Latino Ohioans, LGBTQ+ Ohioans, Ohioans with disabilities and Ohioans with lower incomes.

“Vibrant communities depend on healthy people,” the Dashboard states. “When we remove barriers and support Ohioans who are facing the greatest challenges, everyone benefits.”

HPIO has also posted a recording of a webinar it hosted last week titled “2026 Health Value Dashboard: Using Data to Promote Policy Progress,” which featured HPIO experts reviewing key findings from the Dashboard, highlighting trends across major drivers of health and examining disparities affecting Ohioans with the greatest needs.

One of the key findings from HPIO’s recently released 2026 Health Value Dashboard is policy action is leading to improvement in child well-being in Ohio, but challenges remain.

In recent years, Ohio policymakers have dedicated effort and resources to improving child health and well-being. Families are realizing those gains, with Ohio performing well and/or trending in the right direction on metrics related to adverse childhood experiences, high school graduation and disconnected youth. However, some children are still experiencing barriers, including children in families with low incomes, as illustrated above.

The Dashboard found that to improve child well-being, Ohio policymakers can:

• Improve high school graduation rates for students at risk of dropping out through dropout prevention/high school completion programs and/or alternative high schools for at-risk students
• Continue placing more children in foster care with kinship caregivers and provide more support for these caregivers
• Support families, such as through connecting them to needed social support and services through family resource centers or schools with wraparound services

HPIO has posted a recording of a webinar it hosted this week titled “2026 Health Value Dashboard: Using Data to Promote Policy Progress,” which featured HPIO experts reviewing key findings from the Dashboard, highlighting trends across major drivers of health and examining disparities affecting Ohioans with the greatest needs.