Therapists in Cleveland, OH and Nearby Locations

Mental Health in Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kevin Love courageously shared publicly that he struggles with mental illness. Love’s announcement was significant as it shined a light on the issue of mental health, an issue that Cleveland knows all too well. Here is a brief profile of the ways that the city is responding to the growing mental health needs of its community.

The Opioid Crisis

While the opioid crisis is a national issue, Cleveland was hit particularly hard. During the first four months of 2017, Cuyahoga County authorities reported 192 deaths from overdoses. For the first 9 months of 2017, the county was averaging 50 overdoses per month. The beginning of 2018 brought some relief when the county experienced a slight dip in overdoses.

In reaction to the large number of deaths from overdosing, the Cleveland police started the Heroin Involved Investigation unit in 2014.  The unit is staffed by seven full-time detectives who investigate drug deaths. The unit has also partnered with local detox centers so that they can direct those who are willing to seek help.

Cleveland Municipal Court-Mental Health Docket

Cleveland’s mental health docket operates in cooperation with area mental health agencies to provide intensive supervision of offenders who have been clinically diagnosed with a mental illness or who are developmentally disabled.  Along with supervision, the docket provides referrals to behavioral services and case management. With more than 15,000 of Ohio’s jailed population having mental illness or substance abuse issues, it is hoped that providing resources will help prevent these individuals from re-offending.

Community Organizations

The Center for Families and Children is an organization that has 25,000 clients who are taking advantage of its programs and services to improve their lives. The organization offers programs and services for those who are experiencing issues with health and wellness as well as educational programs and job development.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Cleveland (AMIGC) has a workshop that allows participants to get a glimpse of what a person with mental illness experiences.

Local hospitals have partnered with Ascent ED, an organization that provides peer-support counselors. When an addict is brought to the hospital, a peer-support counselor will stay with them while they are hospitalized.

Policy Changes in Cleveland

Ohio’s Medicare recipients who seek mental health services no longer can be treated differently from those who seek medical services. Because of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act of 2008, those who seek mental health services will follow the same Medicare guidelines that are established for medical services. The co-pay for mental health services must be the same as for medical services as do prior-authorization requirements, limits on hospitalization, or counseling.

Due to a mandate by the justice department, Cleveland police developed new policies for dealing with the mentally ill during crisis interventions. Among the changes include a goal for directing mentally ill individuals toward getting professional help as opposed to jailing them as well as using the least force possible.