Ohio's youth in crisis can now quickly access help across all 88 counties, thanks to an initiative championed by Governor Mike DeWine. The statewide expansion of the Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) ensures that young individuals up to the age of 20 who are grappling with mental or behavioral health issues can receive immediate assistance. "When it comes to our children, we have no time to lose," Governor DeWine stated, recognizing the urgency for mental health assistance for young people and acknowledging the bewildering predicament many caregivers face when seeking help for a child in distress.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline serves as the entry point for those in need to quickly request MRSS aid. Once a call is made, the promise is a licensed clinician-led team, ready to respond within 60 minutes, to assess and aid the youth, no matter where they find themselves, be it home, school, or any other safe community space. This announcement, originally reported by the Governor's Office, marks a significant upgrade from the previous somewhat limited coverage, which was capped at 56 counties.
This expansion did not occur in a vacuum, but as part of a comprehensive effort that took months of planning and coordination. In April, the critical collaboration between the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health and the Ohio Department of Medicaid was made public. Their goal was to establish a robust regional framework capable of supporting and deploying the MRSS program on this grand scale. Governor DeWine underlined the collaborative effort, saying, "Parents, educators, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, peers, and young people in crisis can call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and request MRSS."
To operationalize this statewide network of care, 12 service providers have been meticulously selected, rigorously prepared, and are now fully equipped to deliver this essential service.
