Several Ottawa County elected officials and professionals attended the Behavioral Health Summit. Among them were, from left, Ottawa County Health Department Health Educator, Meghen Matta; Health Department Health Educator, Michelle Veliz; Health Department Director of Health Education and Accreditation, Josh Niese; Ottawa County Health Commissioner Jerry Bingham; Ottawa County Common Pleas Judge Bruce Winters; and Ottawa County Mental Health Court Program Coordinator, Jaimee Prieur. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Dozens of professionals and elected officials from across four counties attended the Behavioral Health Summit hosted by the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties (MHRSB) at North Central Ohio Educational Service Center in Tiffin on Aug. 26. The summit created an opportunity for education, connection and support.

As mental health professionals from across the state provided updates and talked about needs, they focused on a shared vision of the future, where mental health loses its stigma and ample resources are available to provide help to every Ohioan in need.

Ohio Attorney General Yost, who traveled to Tiffin for the summit, said that 87% of Americans believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. That is a 12 % increase since 2017.

State Senator Theresa Gavarone is a strong advocate for mental health legislation in Columbus. (Photo by Zach Stumpf, Scanner Media)

“So, in the course of seven years, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in awareness and acceptance and the value of mental health,” Yost told the audience. “Why did that happen? Did everybody all of a sudden wake up one day and say, ‘Oh, well, maybe this is pretty important after all.’ No, what happened is the long work that all of you have done to raise awareness and to change how society looks at mental health is succeeding.”

Mental health professionals need assistance from all levels, from volunteers all the way up to the legislature. Thankfully, MHRSB’s four-county region is led by elected officials who make mental health legislation a priority.

“I’d just like to… let everybody know that mental health is at the top of the agenda in Columbus,” said State Senator Bill Reineke. “I’m always happy to work with Senator (Theresa) Gavarone, who leads a lot of the charges.”

MHRSB Executive Director Mircea Handru hosted the Behavioral Health Summit. Shown here are, from left, Sandusky County Commissioner Russ Zimmerman, Handru, Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart and Seneca County Common Pleas Judge Damon Alt. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Reineke said that, in addition to Gavarone, he also invests efforts into mental health legislation with State Representative Gary Click and State Representative Riordan McClain, all three of whom also spoke at the summit. Mental health-related legislation discussed at the summit were House Bill 86, cosponsored by Reineke; House Bill 321 cosponsored by Click; and Senate Bill 60 sponsored by Gavarone. SB 60 would establish licensure for a new mental health professional: certified mental health assistants.

A shortage of mental health professionals in Ohio creates delays in care. Gavarone said the newly established professional created by SB 60 would serve as “an extender” to a psychiatrist, creating greater access to mental health support for Ohioans.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost thanked the mental health professionals in the audience for the impactful work they do. (Photo by Zach Stumpf, Scanner Media)

Among the elected officials in attendance was Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart, who was impressed with the progress on promoting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

“I appreciate MHRSB putting together an impactful meeting and bringing us all up to date on mental health issues, including the importance of having the 988 number and their quick response time when a call is made,” Frankart said.

MHRSB Executive Director Mircea Handru gave an overview of the organization’s work and goals. MHRSB’s four initiatives this year are: crisis response services; youth and adolescents; incarcerated individuals; and planning and funding threats. The initiatives are collectively focused on expanding and enhancing mental health services in the four-county area.

State Senator Bill Reineke said that mental health legislation is a priority in Columbus. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Handru said that sober living and mental health housing needs have been addressed well in the last few years but transportation needs, especially in emergency situations, remain a challenge. He believes that collaboration is the key to meeting all needs within the mental health field.

“I believe the success of our organization or the success of this four-county district is really what I call the connecting with our partners,” Handru said.

Handru said it is important for mental health professionals to connect with entities locally and at the state level, whether they are meeting for coffee or advocating at the Ohio State House.

“So, by connecting to see where they stand, and to see what we can get done together, has been really important for me and our organization,” he said.