Ohio Faces Mental Health Treatment Shortage

Becky Carroll, director at the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, has published a study highlighting a deficit in mental health treatment facilities and addiction treatment programs across Ohio.

Seventy-five out of 88 counties in the Buckeye State lack enough licensed mental health providers to meet demand for care.

The gap in provider availability means many families have to look outside their home county for treatment. 

Rising Demand for Behavioral Health Treatment

Demand for behavioral health services has grown much faster than the number of available providers.

The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers note that from 2013 to 2019, demand increased by 353% while the workforce grew by 174%.

The shortfall affects how quickly individuals and families can get even their initial appointment with a therapist or psychiatrist or to set up a preventive intervention before conditions worsen.

An increase in demand for services doesn’t only affect the counties with limited providers. The 13 counties that offer mental healthcare services have been easily overwhelmed as they try to meet the needs of their own residents, alongside those from other areas. 

Families from counties without enough providers often travel long distances for care. It can create additional stress and scheduling challenges. Even residents in the better serviced counties face delays as local providers handle a higher volume of patients. 

Limited Access to Youth Mental Health Treatment

Carroll also found that 53 counties don’t have a child psychiatrist. Of those that do, seven had 10 or more, which sounds like a positive, but imagine the burden those providers feel to meet the growing needs without any real growth in staffing.

Teen inpatient services lag far behind demand, and only 11 facilities feature tracks for teens.

To adjust, families often rearrange work schedules, pull kids out of school, and spend hours on the road just to access care. The added pressure can feel overwhelming, especially for folks already under emotional strain. 

How Insurance and Medicaid Impact Treatment Access

Many people assume that with insurance, finding treatment won’t be difficult. That’s not necessarily the case, especially when you live in a county with limited providers, let alone ones offering free treatment. 

Even if a nearby county has more providers, families with private insurance can’t always go there. Their plans may limit them to certain in-network providers, which can make finding care close to home tricky.

Families on Medicaid often have broader access to participating providers, which can make it easier to secure an appointment where services are available.

Accessing Care With Fewer Options

Carroll talked with both parents and providers and found that they face multiple issues accessing Ohio’s mental healthcare system.

For parents, it’s the long wait times and limited locations providing outpatient care. For providers, turnover and burnout impact the care they give.

Find Mental Health Treatment Options 

A lack of available providers doesn’t have to keep you from getting the mental healthcare you need. Find treatment centers near you that offer in-person and virtual options. You can also call 800-908-4823 (Sponsored) for immediate support.

Author

Amy Ramirez-Leal

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Amy Ramirez-Leal holds an M.A. in Professional Writing from the University of Denver and is an experienced freelance writer. She specializes in wellness and lifestyle content, particularly topics that matter to women, families, and seniors. She has a passion for writing in the addiction and recovery space, drawing from both personal experience and years of community involvement in Celebrate Recovery. 

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Eric Owens

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Eric Owens has been a writer and editor for various businesses as well as his own successful websites. He has extensive experience creating content in the health and wellness space and the sustainability space. He holds a bachelor degree in Philosophy which helped him with presenting complex information in a simple way that all audiences can understand.