Ohio’s Surge in Mental Health Issues Leads for More Funding and Help for Those in Need

By Tyler Pyles

“I was going through a tough time in my first semester,” said Gordon, a sophomore business major at Kent State. “I needed help because I did not know what else I was going to do with my depression.”

Gordon is amongst a growing number of students who have mental health issues in Ohio. 

According to the Mental Health America of Ohio, Ohio ranked second worst in the nation in serious thoughts of suicide. About 11% of youths have reported at least one depressive episode and did not get serious help from mental health services.

Ohio averages 10 suicides per 100,000 people of those 15 to 19 years old. Ohio ranks 11th in the nation for teen suicide deaths per 100,000 people. 

“We have seen a steady increase in severe mental health episodes with teens and young children over the past few years,” said Karyn Kravetz, the assistant director of the mental health board of Portage County. 

With teen and youth mental health numbers rising, more government involvement has taken place.

Gov. Mike DeWine has made mental health one of his biggest focuses. In January of 2023, DeWine proposed a bill that allows a $175 million investment for mental health.

In 2021, Ohio invested $20 million  in professional development and educational events and courses regarding prevent and depression help in schools. The state also invested $675 million in the Student Wellness and Success Fund, which gives funding for students who are in need of any type of mental health help. 

According to the Mental Health Addiction Services, 400,000 students have benefited from the programs created from the investments. Now, 90% of Ohio school districts have completed programs to assess students’ needs and have expanded their mental health programs. 

Meanwhile, in Portage County, Coleman Health Services in Ravenna focuses on mental health for anyone and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Coleman offers in-home treatments for people who are struggling with mental health issues or are in need of immediate help.

“Coleman Health focuses on more severe cases that involve diagnoses and treatments,” Kravetz said.

Coleman Health has increased their number of hospital beds they see for young children. Coleman Health has also increased their number of doctors.

At Kent State University, mental health has been at the top of student needs. Kent officials have added new programs such as the Kent State Care Team.

“Since Covid-19, our team has seen more students than ever before,” said Talea Drummer-Ferrell, the assistant vice president of student life and dean of students. 

After 2020, Kent State has added more psychologists and doctors to help assess students who have shown signs of serious danger to themselves or others. 

“We have proposed different themes for more government funding; increase knowledge of certain mental health services and options for students, increase access to more care options, remove barriers from lack of funding for more help and increase opportunities for more students to get the help they need,” she said.

If the Ohio government accepts Kent State’s proposals for more funding, then more student resources will be on campus in the next few semesters.

“If the government says yes to what we are asking, then we will get the funding to help students with new and current services over the next two fiscal years,” Drummer-Ferrell said.

Drummer-Ferrell helps Kent State University’s care team, which is a crisis management committee that assesses and responds to student behavioral issues that are identified as a potential threat to the student or the university. 

Kent State has pushed for more help in the next coming of months. Drummer-Ferrell is hoping the state of Ohio goes through with their current proposals.

Kent State has more opportunities for its students by offering counseling and psychological services, known as CAPS, to students who are not dealing with major mental health concerns.

CAPS has had a 43% increase in students, who have volunteered themselves for help since 2021. 

“Last semester I had to use CAPS services for mental health help,” Gordon said. “I went to a session every week and got out everything that was bothering me throughout my first year.”

Now that more services have been created for student mental health, the care team and CAPS have seen a 200% increase in students speaking out since 2020.

“My overall experiences with CAPS went really well. The doctors helped me get through my major episodes and allowed me to recover as fast as possible,” Gordon said.