By: Holly Zweizig, Mental Health and Recovery Board of Union County Associate Director
It’s January, and like most Ohio winters, it is cold and grey. Normally, these months tend to be a time that some individuals struggle with increased sadness or even depression. But the coronavirus pandemic, and all of the secondary complications, make it hard to quantify the impact on our collective behavioral health.
In a “normal year,” our local behavioral health providers would typically see about 1,200 – 1,600 clients for mental health and substance use disorders. Of those, roughly 400-500 would be youth. “This year has been far from ‘normal,’ said Dr. Phil Atkins, Executive Director at the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Union County. “We want to make sure we are doing all we can to let individuals and families know there is help for them here and now.”
In order to better support kids and families, the Mental Health and Recovery Board, in partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital- Partners for Kids, CareSource and local behavioral health providers are launching the Mosaic Project in early 2021. In October 2019, the $4 million project was funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to develop a system of care to ensure that all children in Union County have full access to services for their behavioral health needs, despite their payer source. “This is an innovative model that we are piloting in Union County,” said Dr. Atkins, “We feel strongly that caring for kids should be the foundation of everything we do.”
One of the most significant changes to the behavioral health field in 2020 was the ability to use telehealth for treatment services. Prior to this recent change, Medicaid, Medicare and insurance companies would not pay for telehealth for some services, including behavioral health. With a new order from the Ohio Department of Medicaid, behavioral health services were available remotely during the COVID pandemic, at a time when people needed mental health services more than ever. For some individuals, telehealth allowed them to maintain their treatment services from home. For others, it may have allowed them to get connected to these services for the first time.
“We have embraced the utilization of telehealth in every effective way possible. This allows individuals to get the help they need without the added fear and anxiety of COVID exposure,” said Melissa Meyer, Director of Regional Services for Maryhaven. “While many people are feeling very tired right now, I think it is important to remember that this isn’t forever.”
Another adaptation in 2020 has been the implementation of prevention services in a virtual format. UC-Talks.com is a new website that was developed with the Union County Drug Free Coalition to provide support to parents related to talking to their kids about mental health concerns and substance use. The website offers short videos, links to additional resources and helpful tips for engaging adolescents. Prevention services and other support groups allowed kids and parents to be connected throughout these many months as well.
“I am very proud of our system, our partner providers, and our staff for making the shift so quickly and doing everything they can to keep helping people,” said Dr. Phil Atkins, Executive Director of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Union County. “True to form, Union County did not flinch but as partners with our Commissioners, Health Department, schools, providers, Emergency Management Agency, city officials, our first responders and law enforcement, we saw collaborations emerge in a place that is already known for getting along and working together!”
“I really reflected on how great it is to be part of this community, to work with such amazing people, and to collectively share a passion for being there when people need us. It’s humbling and inspiring – and I would even say, unprecedented,” said Dr. Atkins.
For more information about the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Union County or for connection to local behavioral health resources visit www.mhrbuc.org. Union County residents can text 4Help to 85511 or call 877-731-5577 to get connected to care.