Behavioral health includes mental health, substance abuse treatment and prevention services. Using national prevalence rates for mental health services, it is estimated that less than one-third of Stark County residents affected with mental illness receive treatment each year. Barriers to accessing treatment include stigma, lack of or inadequate insurance coverage, and limited program capacity.
In Stark County services are provided in many venues including in the home, schools and the criminal justice system. Despite this, Stark County has an inadequate supply of psychiatric services for children and adults.
The highest rates of mental illness are among adults aged 25 to 34 years old. Depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol abuse, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorder are the most frequent diagnoses among adults. The leading diagnoses for children are attention deficit, anxiety, and depressive disorders. There is concern that antidepressants are frequently being used without the associated mental health treatment.
If the national drug abuse/dependency rate were applied to Stark County, it is estimated that 30,000 residents would be illicit drug users and 36,000 would have a substance dependence or abuse problem. The most frequently abused substances are alcohol and marijuana. The Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network (OSAM) reports that for the area of opiate use is increasing, while cocaine and methamphetamine use has been declining.
Illicit use of prescription drugs is an emerging concern due to the high incidents of prescription drug overdose among teens and young adults. While unintended interactions are a cause of death, most poisonings seem to be linked to recreational use.
Ohio Department of Mental Health
Multi-Agency Community Services Information System
Stark County Community Mental Health Board
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Service Board of Stark County
Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drgu Addiction Services |
