Region needs to make behavioral health an ARPA priority
Substance use disorders and mental illness have become a serious public health emergency in Ohio. A recent report outlined the growing and destructive scourge playing out in Clark and Champaign counties, and the numbers in Montgomery County are grim as well.
This worsening problem is nothing short of an epidemic. Fortunately, moneys available from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) can be used to aid every county’s efforts in improving behavioral health.
But this unique funding
opportunity will only come to pass if we have the foresight to seize it. The federal recommendation is that 37% of ARPA dollars be targeted toward behavioral health issues.
Western Ohio certainly is not alone. Ohioans are suffering from addiction and mental illness in unprecedented numbers, affecting residents of all ages and ethnicities in cities, suburbs and rural areas. Consider these sobering statistics:
■ Approximately 2.3 million Ohioans (1 in 5) suffer from mental illness.
■ Substance use addictions have hit Ohio, especially in rural areas, according to the Ohio Health Policy Institute. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks Ohio among the top 5 states for residents with various addictions.
■ Federal data released in the fall of 2021 said overdose deaths in Ohio set a record at 5,083 lives lost.
■ 17.7% of Ohioans report they drink excessively.
There is obviously an alarming and increased demand for substance use and mental health treatment throughout the state. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of providers. In Clark County for example, there are 570 residents for every one mental health provider. In Champaign County, 1 for every 930 residents. And in Montgomery County, one provider per 310 residents.
Addressing the need for more mental health providers in our county is not an easy fix, as some of the jobs they do require years of study and training. But part of fix is something that grew out of necessity during the pandemic, the growth of telehealth mental health services, which are literally providing a lifeline to thousands of Ohioans.
For example, Thrive
Peer Recovery Services in Springfield offers proven services to guide those with mental illness and to put those with substance use issues on the road to recovery.
The peer support model uses trained professionals who have been successful in their own personal recovery to help others experiencing similar situations. Peer supporters are certified by the state and backed by a team of clinical experts . ...
We encourage area leaders to allocate ARPA dollars to address mental health issues in the region and strive to reach the federal government’s recommendation of 37% earmarked toward behavioral health needs.
It’s the right thing — and the smart thing — to do. We all pay the costs of poor behavioral health. By improving it, there will be less strain on our police, fire and justice systems. Our residents will be healthier and our economic vitality will be stronger.