More struggling with mental health than you think

FINDLAY — It's likely that more of your friends, relatives and neighbors are struggling with their mental health than you realize. Nationwide, 61.5 million adults experienced mental illness and 14.6 million adults experienced serious mental illness in 2024, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The most common are anxiety disorders, affecting 19.1% of U.S. adults, and major depressive disorder, affecting 15.5%. Additionally, 4.1% of adults have post-traumatic stress disorder, 2.8% have bipolar disorder and 8.1% have a co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness. Among youth ages 6-17, more than 1 in 7 children experience a mental health disorder each year. Although progress is happening around encouraging people to discuss their mental health concerns, many would still argue there is a stigma preventing people from getting the help they need. A July 2025 Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation fact sheet defines stigma as negative attitudes, beliefs and stereotypes people may hold toward those who experience mental health conditions. This can include structural stigma, such as laws, regulations and policies limiting these individuals' rights; public stigma from individuals or groups such as families or health care providers; or self-stigma, in which people living with a mental health condition "believe they are flawed" or blame themselves. This stigma creates a barrier to seeking help, OSFP reports. The organization advocates for using non-stigmatizing language and setting policies and practices to support individuals in settings like workplaces and health care, along with "treating those living with mental health conditions with empathy and acceptance, so that no one feels the need to hide their struggles." Precia Stuby, executive director of the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services, said more people are recognizing the importance of mental health since the COVID-19 pandemic, and this is beginning to reduce the stigma. The pandemic also created its own challenges, however. "We all experienced some level of trauma," she said. "This includes loss: loss of loved ones; jobs; opportunities for socialization, etc. Each of us must resolve this loss to move forward." Unaddressed mental health concerns can have significant consequences. NAMI reports that 12.3% of emergency department visits made by U.S. adults each year are related to mental health, for example. Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death overall and the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-24 in the U.S. in 2023. One person dies by suicide about every 11 minutes. Around 5.5% of U.S. adults have serious thoughts of suicide each year, NAMI reports. The figure is lower for some ethnic groups, but rises to 10.7% for non-Hispanic multiracial adults. Additionally, 18% of lesbian, gay or bisexual adults have serious thoughts of suicide each year, and transgender adults are nearly nine times more likely to attempt suicide at some point in their lifetime compared to the general population. In 2025, at least 13 Hancock County residents died by suicide. There may be more, as Hancock Public Health reports that there are some deaths still pending a final coroner's ruling. Mental health was identified as a top concern among Hancock County residents surveyed in the 2024 Community Health Assessment. A total of 36% of survey respondents said community mental health care access is lacking. County residents between the ages of 25 and 44 were most likely to rank mental health as a top concern, and lower-income residents were particularly likely to have mental health challenges. "Struggles such as finances, relationships, housing, etc. intensify the symptoms associated with any mental illness or substance use disorder," Stuby said. "Helping individuals seek and/or identify solutions will reduce the stress." She added that simply talking with someone "who will listen with empathy" can make a difference. Struggles to find and pay for mental health care were among the issues cited by several community members surveyed in the Community Health Assessment. "The issue with mental health is that we don't have enough counselors," said one community member interviewed. "Mental health services should be provided on a sliding fee scale," another said. "There is too much turnover for mental health providers and case managers, leading to a lack of services and long wait times." The 2026-2028 Hancock County Community Health Improvement Plan, released in January, identified behavioral health and substance use as a priority area to address. Goals include building a more stable long-term workforce and working to make sure individuals are connected to primary care. "Workforce continues to be a challenge for our community," Stuby said. She said people often leave the field entirely, or seek an opportunity outside of community mental health for higher pay. The most difficult positions to fill are for individuals with an independent license to provide counseling, Stuby said. A recent report by the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Services Providers states that, while the need for mental health care among adults and adolescents is growing, Ohio's behavioral health workforce "is shrinking, as stagnant wages, funding shortfalls and limited career pathways leave current workers underpaid, undervalued and overburdened – driving record turnover and deterring new professionals from entering the field. If left unaddressed, this crisis will stifle economic growth, disrupt workforce productivity and increase healthcare and public assistance costs." Vicarious stress and burnout are high among professionals in this field, and insufficient insurance coverage, reimbursement and funding sources mean salaries are not competitive, leading to workforce shortages, the report states. The Hancock County Community Health Improvement Plan states that Hancock County has fewer mental health providers relative to its population when compared with Ohio. NAMI reports that the average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years. In 2024, only 52.1% of U.S. adults with mental illness and 70.8% of adults with serious mental illness received treatment. The same year, 9.6% of U.S. adults with mental illness and 10.9% of those with serious mental illness had no insurance coverage. More than 120 million people in the United States live in a designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, NAMI reports. Rural areas are particularly affected by these shortages. Warning signs of mental illness may include excessive worrying or fear, feeling excessively sad or low, confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning, extreme mood changes, avoiding friends and social activities, changes in sleeping or eating habits, and difficulty perceiving reality, among others, NAMI reports. People may also overuse substances like alcohol or drugs. Anyone experiencing a crisis, or concerned about a loved one, can call or text the 988 Lifeline by calling 988 or chatting online at https://988lifeline.org.