Putnam plan boosts mental health focus

A major focus of OTTAWA — the Putnam County Health Plan for 2018-20 is on mental health awareness and treatment, said employees of the Putnam County Health Department on Thursday.

According to information provided by the health department, 15 percent of people with incomes lower than $25,000 reported feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks at a time, while 9 percent of people with incomes higher reported feeling hopeless and sad for weeks at a time. Of those Putnam County residents, 3 percent had suicidal thoughts, while 7 percent used a service or program to help with emotional problems, depression or anxiety.

Joan Kline, with the Putnam County Health Department, said one of the strategies she would like to see implemented to help people with mental illness is to inform them about what programs are available.

Aaron Baumgartner, executive director of Pathways Counseling Center, said there is a severe shortage of psychiatrists in Ohio. It’s so severe, people have to wait three months or more to find help with their illness, he said. Baumgartner said to help fix this issue in Putnam County, Pathways Counseling Center has begun accepting walk-ins. People can now get treatment within 10 days or sooner, he said.

Kline said professionals are working to eradicate the stigma placed on the mentally ill. Mental illness is like physical illnesses and should be treated the same way. Like physical illness, the patient isn’t at fault for the mental illness, she said.

According to health department information, one adult in Putnam County committed suicide in 2014, three people died of suicide in 2015 and four committed suicide in 2016.

“I think it’s received a lot of attention lately because of national incidents,” Baumgartner said of mental illness.

The Putnam County Community Health Improvement Plan also explored how the county can tackle problems like preventable and chronic diseases such as obesity, plus abuse and safety issues, such as proper use of car seats.