Paid Sponsorship by Ohio AAP
The Ohio Pediatric Psychiatry Access Line (OPPAL) will launch in July offering family physicians and other primary care professionals in Ohio access to a FREE telephone helpline for same day, convenient peer-to-peer consultation with child psychiatrists. The OPPAL program will help support the behavioral health services primary care physicians provide every day across Ohio.
- 18% of Ohio high schoolers reported seriously considering attempting suicide
- 9% made a suicide attempt – increased from 6.8% in 2019
- 1 in 3 high schoolers stated that their mental health was not good “always or most of the time;” 1 in 5 middle schoolers reported the same
- Only about 1 in 4 Ohio middle and high school students report getting the kind of help they need “always or most of the time”
- Half of middle schoolers feel they cannot talk with friends, adults in their family, or other caring adults about their feelings.
- How to register to use OPPAL
- Introduction to the OPPAL website and connections to existing resources, such as Minds Matter and OhioRISE
- Review criteria for OPPAL consultations, including what clinicians should know prior to calling the line.
Learn more, register for the webinars, and access OPPAL enrollment resources online now!
OPPAL’s introduction complements other actions taken in Ohio to address rising mental health needs among youth as new data continues to shed light on areas of need. According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Ohio children and youth are experiencing mental health challenges at rates higher than the United States overall, and many conditions are worsening over time.
Please contact Hayley Southworth for more details.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided financial support for OPPAL. The award provided 51% of total costs and totaled $1,327,033. The contents are those of the author. They may not reflect the policies of HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.