South Dayton News

Senate Bill 234, incorporating House Bill 571, was signed into law, marking a pivotal moment for mental health awareness in Ohio. Spearheaded by State Representative Andrea White (R-Kettering), the legislation mandates the inclusion of the national suicide and crisis lifeline number, 9-8-8, on all student identification cards, planners, and electronic portals across high schools, colleges, and universities. Additionally, higher education institutions are required to provide information regarding declarations for mental health treatment during orientation, onboarding, or transfer processes.

The need for such measures is underscored by troubling statistics regarding mental health among Ohio's student population. Suicide has become the leading cause of death for college students, with 24,000 attempting suicide annually. According to the Ohio Youth Environments Survey, one in three high school students struggles with anxiety, and nearly 115,000 face depression. Alarmingly, 22% of high school students have seriously contemplated suicide, with one in ten having attempted it. The age group of 10 to 12 has witnessed a sobering increase in suicide attempts, escalating from 1,058 in 2010 to 5,606 in 2020. Most gravely, a youth aged 10-24 dies by suicide every 34 hours in Ohio.

Between 2019 and 2021, there was a marked increase in mental health issues among Ohio high school students, with a 29% rise in feelings of sadness or hopelessness, a 38% climb in those considering suicide, a 48% increase in planning suicide attempts, and a 40% rise in actual suicide attempts.

Ohio has made considerable investments in the national 9-8-8 lifeline, operational since July 2022. The state hosts 19 call centers, maintaining an average response time of 21 seconds, with 90% of calls answered locally. The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services' 2023 report revealed an average of 11,140 monthly interactions with the lifeline between June 2022 and June 2023, with about 80% of crises resolved via phone conversations.

The legislation aims to bolster awareness of mental health resources by integrating the 9-8-8 number into everyday student materials. Representative White emphasized that increased visibility of the lifeline could encourage students in crisis to seek help for themselves or others. The bill also requires colleges to inform new students about mental health declaration resources, enabling loved ones to provide support during crises.

This legislation represents an effort to enhance awareness and access to essential mental health resources for vulnerable youth in Ohio. It is aimed at curbing the harmful trends observed in younger demographics across the state. The bill will be effective in 90 days.