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The Health Policy Institute of Ohio has released a new brief titled “Factors Contributing to Child and Youth Mental Health Struggles.” The brief is the second in a series of four planned HPIO publications on child and youth mental health.

“Ohio children and youth are experiencing significant mental health challenges, with increases in overall rates of mental health conditions and higher rates compared to the U.S. overall in recent years,” according to the brief.

There are a variety of factors that influence a child's mental health. The brief focuses on three important contributing factors:

• Smart phones and social media
• Housing instability and homelessness
• Child protective services and foster care system involvement

The brief describes how each factor influences child and youth mental health, the extent to which it exists in Ohio and what the state is doing to address it. Finally, it presents a variety of policy options that could be implemented to address each topic.

From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025, HPIO will be hosting a webinar to explore key findings from the brief. Speakers will include lead author, Becky Carroll, Director of Policy Research and Analysis at HPIO and Linsday Green, Behavioral Health and Wellness Coordinator at Miamisburg City Schools. More speakers are expected to be announced soon.

The federal spending package that was signed into law last week will lead to a $37 billion reduction in federal Medicaid funds in Ohio over the next decade, KFF analysis projects.

Using estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, which showed that the bill would cut Medicaid by $1 trillion between 2025 and 2034, KFF projects that Ohio could receive 14% less in federal dollars for Medicaid. Every state is expected to lose funding, as illustrated above, but Ohio will lose more than all but six states, according to the analysis.

An analysis of the health impacts of the federal legislation by the National Academy for State Health Policy found that "The impact on state budgets will be felt most significantly by the 40 states and Washington, D.C., that have expanded Medicaid, with between 10 and 21 percent reductions in federal spending … State leaders will need to make decisions on how to account for federal funding reductions, with limited options for new dollars to make up any gaps."

As celebrations for Pride Month conclude, national data shows that living in accepting communities can prevent harm for LGBTQ+ young people.

In Ohio, gay, lesbian and bisexual youth are nearly 3 times more likely to report a suicide attempt in the past 12 months, with one in five (20%) gay, lesbian and bisexual high school students reporting that they attempted suicide in 2023, according to data from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. However, national data from the Trevor Project shows that LGBTQ+ young people who reported living in very accepting communities attempted suicide at less than half the rate of those who live in very unaccepting communities, as illustrated above.

HPIO’s 2024 Health Value Dashboard includes an equity profile for LGBTQ+ Ohioans. The Dashboard details how homophobia and transphobia are primary drivers of poor outcomes experienced by LGBTQ+ Ohioans of all ages. Experiencing discrimination can cause toxic stress, leading to poor health outcomes over time. Thus, LGBTQ+ Ohioans often experience worse outcomes than heterosexual and/or cisgender Ohioans across measures of health and social well-being. Policies and practices that limit access to necessary health care and a lack of protections for Ohioans based on sexual orientation and gender identity contribute to worse health outcomes for LGBTQ+ people compared to their heterosexual and/or cisgender peers.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a statement last week announcing that specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth who call the 988 national suicide prevention hotline will no longer be in operation starting July 17.

There are evidence-informed strategies that Ohio leaders can adopt to improve health disparities for LGBTQ+ Ohioans. By collecting data about the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring access to developmentally appropriate care, improving provider education and including sexual orientation and gender identity in anti-discrimination laws, Ohio can create more accepting communities and close gaps in health outcomes for LGBTQ+ Ohioans.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org 24/7 for free and confidential support. The Trevor Project operates a 24/7 suicide prevention hotline for the LGBTQ+ community at 1-866-488-7386 (or text START to 678-678) and the Trans Lifeline suicide hotline operates Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 1-877-565-8860.