by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern
HPIO Snapshot of Mental Health Challenges Among Ohio High School Students
Approximately five Ohioans die by suicide every day. This statistic headlined the February 9th release of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) data snapshot detailing key statistics surrounding the prevalence of suicide and mental illness in the state of Ohio. Suicide is the fifth leading cause of death among working-age Ohioans, and HPIO’s data snapshot shows mental health challenges are increasingly common among school-aged Ohioans.
In response to the concerning rise in prevalence of mental illness and suicide, Governor DeWine announced a two-year suicide prevention plan earlier this year aimed to increase awareness, data collection, and expand access to health care and support services for Ohioans impacted by suicide. The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio (2024-2026) follows the first Ohio Suicide Prevention Plan (2020-2022). The first initiative presented the vision and guidance used by thousands of state and community groups to engage in suicide prevention efforts. Ohio now seeks to further the roadmap to mitigate the prevalence of suicide in the state. This newest edition of a suicide prevention plan is outlined by four strategic priorities and guided by numerous goals to ensure success in advancing the scope of suicide prevention in Ohio.
Strategic Priority 1: Community Systems
The first strategic priority within The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio centers on building the needed capacity and infrastructure within local/state organizations and communities for effective prevention initiatives. Building this capacity requires strengthening public knowledge of suicide prevention and risk behaviors and reducing stigma surrounding topics of mental health and suicide. Strategic priority 1 also involves expansion/sustaining of suicide prevention coalition capacity, as well as increased efforts to have safe storage of lethal means (firearms, medications, etc.).
Strategic Priority 2: Prevention & Early Intervention
The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio strategic priority 2 supports the capacity of organizations to implement prevention initiatives and looks to improve coordination across multiple sectors and settings. The two main goals within this strategic priority are increasing the integration of suicide prevention into the workplace and educational systems, and integrating suicide prevention best practices for high-risk populations. Within the overall framework of this suicide prevention plan is a focus on groups disproportionately impacted by suicide, including males, young adults, veterans, people living in rural and Appalachian regions, LGBTQ+ Ohioans, and Ohioans with disabilities.
Strategic Priority 3: Quality Treatment & Postvention
The third strategic priority emphasizes improved access to high-quality suicide care and support services, in alignment with the Zero Suicide framework. The Zero Suicide framework is a model for improving suicide care through seven elements of safe and effective suicide care.
Goals of Strategic Priority 3
1. Increase screening and risk assessment
2. Improve care transitions and coordination
3. Improve access to effective treatment and care
4. Improve access to postvention services
5. Align healthcare payment and payor policies with evidence-informed practices
6. Strengthen Ohio’s Suicide Mortality Review Board process
Strategic Priority 4: Data & Evaluation
The fourth and final strategic priority of The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio will build data/evaluation capacity among both private and public partners at the local and state levels. This priority includes improvement of data collection and reporting, and increasing data collection related to risk and protective factors. Data collection includes efforts to monitor existing suicide prevention programs and services, as well as exploration of new approaches to suicide prevention.
Suicide and mental health challenges continue to plague many Ohioans on a daily basis. The first Ohio Suicide Prevention Plan yielded promising results in increasing engagement with Ohioans and improving suicide prevention initiatives across the state. The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio seeks to expand upon the efforts of its preceding initiative and increase prevention efforts, improve treatment quality, and monitor the success of suicide prevention programs, all in an effort to minimize the prevalence of suicide and mental health challenges among Ohioans.