How Ohioans are addressing the shortages in the mental health system

Ohio’s behavioral health system is experiencing an increasing demand for counselors, psychologist and other types of behavioral health professionals to accommodate the surge in demand for mental health and addiction services.

With the number of individuals seeking help increasing almost daily according to industry leaders, the number of employees is still decreasing.

“We’re in a complete crisis,” said Lori Criss, director of Ohio’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS). “The increased demand for mental health and addiction services is far outpacing the availability supply the industry can offer.”

From 2013 to 2019, the demand for behavioral health services increased 353% statewide, according to data from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Demand spiked again in 2021, with providers reporting a 70% increase in need for adult and youth mental health services and a 60% increase in need for addiction services. Nearly 2.4 million Ohioans also lived in communities without enough behavioral health professionals.

“Demand is definitely up,” said Eric Morse, CEO The Centers in Cleveland, a not-for-profit which provides a variety of services including case management, counseling, psychiatric services and substance abuse treatment. “It was high before COVID. think COVID has just made it even worse.”

The COVID-19 pandemic only made the workforce shortage within the industry worse, Criss said.

“The behavioral health system has never really had as much of a workforce as needed, but the extreme disparity after the pandemic is beyond anything seen before,” she said.

How Ohio lawmakers are tackling the shortage 

In May, Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine, announced an $85 million dollar partnership various leaders of Ohio behavioral healthcare and higher education committees to create a plan that will increase the number of behavioral healthcare providers to meet the increasing demand.

According to a press release, the plan seeks to increase the number of future behavioral healthcare workers by supporting paid internships and scholarships for students working to attain behavioral health certificates and degrees.

The goal is to increase the number of providers to combat the long wait times those in need must endure.

In October, Ohio State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and State Rep. Gail Pavliga (R-Portage County) teamed up with NEOMED  to propose creating a new licensed mental health professional designation called a certified mental health assistant.

Dr. Randon Welton, the chair of psychiatry at the NEOMED College of Medicine, estimates that Ohio has roughly 50% of the psychiatrists necessary to meet the current demand.

“That is just an indication of the national problem. Nationwide estimates say that we’re about 15,000, maybe 30,000 psychiatrists short to meet the need for people,” Werlton said.

The Certified Mental Health Assistant would be similar to becoming a physician’s assistant, but focuses on mental health and abuse disorders. Students will still need a bachelor’s degree, but instead of going through four years of med school, the individual would only need to complete two of the new programs, according to a statement from Gavarone.

“The demand for service is way beyond the new people coming in to treat the folks that need the help,” Russell said. “This idea could really help us chip away at the access to care.”