Ohio’s school-based behavioral health partnerships increased over 200% since 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – An Ohio group found “troubling” trends in youth mental health, with the demand for school-based behavioral health services sharply increasing in recent years.

The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Services Providers, which represents 165 private businesses that offer substance use, mental health and family services, states nearly 44% of all high school students in the U.S. report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Additionally, the council said suicide remains the second leading cause of death among young people in the country ages 10-24.

A recent report by the group looked at 3,610 Ohio schools – including public and private schools, charter schools and educational service centers – finding the number of school-based behavioral health services grew 223% since 2017. Mental health is considered a subset of behavioral health, which encompasses a broader range of conditions that affect behavior, such as substance abuse.

Dr. Sara Bode, a medical consultant for Columbus City Schools, stated the district has a “significant” number of students with symptoms of depression, anxiety and ADHD.

“Even prior to COVID, there was definitely a trend and we noticed that kids were having more significant mental health needs,” Bode said. “Then during the time of COVID, that rose sharply again, and the Academy of Pediatrics actually declared a mental health emergency at that time because there were so many kids with those significant needs and we have not seen that go down, so it’s continuing to rise.”

Columbus City Schools takes a “tiered approach” to mental health, according to Bode. Columbus schools offer services to all students, such as school counselors and education about mental health. The district also partners with several organizations that may come in and offer more intensive therapy to students that have a mental health diagnosis, Bode said.

The high number of youth seeking behavioral health services in Ohio could be influenced by multiple factors. Bode said the COVID-19 pandemic was a stressful time for students that disrupted their routine, with some experiencing a death of someone close them.

“Even now being back, a lot of it has to do with kids that feel isolated,” Bode said. “Certainly there are issues with loneliness, isolation, certainly family disruption, social media use and bullying has been associated with increased mental health conditions.”

Most commonly, students in the district seek support services for feelings of sadness or depression, along with feeling isolated or lonely, Bode stated. Without support, youth with mental, emotional or behavioral concerns will be three times more likely to repeat a grade and twice as likely than their peers to drop out of high school, according to the council.

Strengthening partnerships between schools and behavioral health centers is an effective strategy to enable students to “reach their full potential,” the nonprofit says, while noting only about 20% of minors in the U.S. who reported serious mental health concerns were able to access care from a professional.

Educational institutions indicated to the council that the top barriers for them to deliver mental and behavioral health care to students are a shortage of service providers (81.25%), the high needs of students compared to long waiting lists (52.5%) and problems retaining staff (33.8%).

Numerous schools in Ohio struggled with significant layoffs this school year, Bode said, as federal funding from pandemic relief programs will come to an end in September. Bode stated Columbus City Schools has been able to keep all of its staff and supports for students’ mental health. This past November a levy passed, generating nearly $100 million annually for the district. In October, Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman noted students’ need for mental health services as a reason the district needed the money.

“Columbus City Schools has been incredibly fortunate to have a robust program with mental health support in the district,” Bode said. “They were able to keep all of our staff and supports for students for their social emotional health and so that’s a significant asset to us to be able to continue to help meet students’ needs.”

Bode said the district plans to continue supporting students’ needs by educating staff on identifying signs of mental health issues so they can connect students with the appropriate supports.

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