Seventy-five of Ohio’s 88 counties were designated as experiencing shortages in mental health care professionals as of July 2025, according to a policy brief released earlier this month by Health Policy Institute of Ohio.

While there are workforce challenges across all levels of mental health care, treating children and youth is considered a specialty, meaning staffing shortages are even more common for this population.

For example, Ohio is home to only 365 child and adolescent psychiatrists – which equals just one professional for every 7,105 children. 53 counties have no psychiatrists serving children at all, and only seven counties have more than 10. Access to inpatient care is also limited, with only 11 facilities statewide offering inpatient services for youth.

“For young Ohioans with mental health needs, early treatment can prevent conditions from worsening, decrease financial costs and keep youth on a path to realizing their full potential,” the report states. “However, many Ohio children and youth experiencing mental health challenges have difficulty getting the treatment they need.”

Groups with greatest difficulties accessing care

The study found that families of young children aged 6 to 11 have more challenges obtaining care than families with older children, with about half of respondents in this group report having a somewhat or very difficult time accessing care. The report explained that there is a shortage of health care workers to treat younger children because those roles often require specialized training and involve more work adults, including the child’s parents or caregivers.

Families with private insurance also reported frequently experiencing greater difficulties in finding treatment than those with public insurance like Medicaid. However, a higher percentage of children with Medicaid ultimately do not receive needed care compared to those with commercial insurance.

The report also found that children with complex needs, eating disorders, co-existing mental health conditions and intellectual or developmental disabilities, as well as those living in rural areas, also face difficulties accessing care.

Effectiveness of care

In addition to access, the effectiveness of mental health care is a concern. Mental health care is considered effective when it is evidence-based, trauma-informed and culturally responsive.

57% of Ohio youth who received mental health treatment or counseling reported that it was at least somewhat helpful, compared to 65% nationally. Only 12 states had percentages lower than Ohio’s.

The report noted that some children may technically be receiving care but not the type or amount they need. For example, a child might see a school social worker when they really need a higher level of treatment, or they may need weekly outpatient sessions but only attend monthly due to cost or scheduling barriers.

Consequences to inaccessibility

Without access to appropriate mental health treatment at the necessary time, the report explained that mental health conditions can worsen and lead to poorer outcomes.

The report found that in 2024, 5,610 Ohio children visited emergency departments for suspected suicide attempts. Overall, there were 12,977 emergency department visits for children’s mental health conditions that year.