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Mental health is a concern among community

Norwalk Reflector - 10/18/2020

Oct. 18--NORWALK -- Mental and behavioral health and resources are among the biggest concerns for Huron County residents.

Huron County's 2020 Community Health Assessment was recently released and provides insight into health problems, mental health, determinants to health and vulnerable populations in adults and youth.

Youth and adults said the most important health problems in the county relate to substance use or addiction and mental health issues.

The ratio of county residents to physicians is 1 to every 760 residents, which is much lower than the state average of 1 to 240. For licensed psychologists, the ratio is 1 to 19,501, which is exceedingly low and may impact mental health treatment negatively.

Community focus groups said there is a concern with overcrowding for mental health and behavioral health issues.

The assessment found one in five adults has been diagnosed with a depressive or anxiety disorder. In the past 12 months, 12 percent of young people have seriously considered suicide and 22 percent have self-harmed.

The community said in the assessment there are barriers for mental health assistance with youths like a lack of coping skills, parental problems and an absence of honest relationships with other adults. Stigma also plays a role, community members said.

For those in the Hispanic community, they said a barrier is a lack of services and there are not folks they can communicate with speaking Spanish.

Huron County has a higher percentage of Hispanic residents compared to over counties in the state at 6.4 percent. In Willard, the Hispanic population is more than 14 percent.

Those involved in the assessment said community members wanted to create more social support for non-native residents. They also said those in the Hispanic community face discrimination.

Those in the Hispanic community involved in the survey said a huge obstacle is fear due to previous immigration raids. This keeps folks from taking advantage of community resources due to a lack of trust.

A community member said, "Because of the raid, everyone is scared. They don't know who to trust, they don't know if their information is being sent to immigration."

The assessment found there is a difficulty in supporting Hispanic families with maternal and child care due to a lack of resources of materials in Spanish.

Children of immigrant parents may have insurance after being born, but mothers are still left without. There is also a huge need, community members said, for affordable childcare, for opportunities for employment and for parents to rest.

For the Huron County population, it was found there's a concern with postpartum depression, and high levels of trauma some parents have, from past or present situations.

The complete 2020 health survey is available to be viewed at Huron County Public Health's website.

Huron County Public Health, on behalf of the Huron County Health Partners and the Huron County Health Partners Steering Committee, contracted with Illuminology, a central Ohio-based research firm, and the Center for Public Health Practice, within The Ohio State University College of Public Health, to assist with the assessment.

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(c)2020 the Norwalk Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio)

Visit the Norwalk Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio) at www.norwalkreflector.com

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