NEOMED to launch mental health course after state approval
Northeast Ohio Medical University soon will be able to train students to meet the shortage of mental health providers in Ohio.
Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed legislation creating the certified mental health assistant program. Dr. John Langell, president of NEOMED, said he hopes to have the program up and running by late 2026.
“This is a historic endeavor that will ultimately save lives,” Langell said. “Certified mental health assistants will transform the landscape of mental health treatment by providing greater access to care.”
Students will receive two years of intense training in behavioral health, mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Once students earn their master’s degrees and certification, they will work under the supervision of a physician, who will make the initial diagnosis. The students will carry out the treatment plan, freeing physicians for more complex cases.
Initially, graduates will be licensed to work only in Ohio, ensuring the training pays off locally.
Gov. Mike DeWine signed the legislation to create the program in early January, after State Sen. Theresa Gavarone of Bowling Green had shepherded it since 2022.
“Ohio is leading the nation by creating this first-of-its-kind profession,” Gavarone said in a news release. “We hope this new program grows the workforce in this critical field and helps address our mental health crisis by providing access to care for all people in every corner of our state.”
The need for mental health providers
The Health Resources and Services Administration said Ohio has 138 mental health professional shortage areas − 17th worst in the nation. The area also includes Summit and Stark counties.
The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers said most providers had difficulty hiring and retaining staff, and only 73% of Ohioans are satisfied with the mental health care they received. The national average is 90%.
The national agency reported that Ohio’s situation is getting worse. By 2037, Ohio is projected to have have 1,040 psychiatrists, only 35% of the estimated 2,970 that will be needed to meet Ohioans’ needs.
Langell noted that one of the places mental health providers are needed is prisons, where a high number of inmates have mental health issues. He said treatment could help to reduce recidivism and violence in prisons.
What are the next steps?
Langell said the new legislation helps NEOMED to move forward, and much of the curriculum already is in place. The school’s next step is to begin the accreditation process. Once that is done, the university can begin hiring.
NEOMED hopes classes will begin in July or August 2026, Langell said. While NEOMED easily can take 100 or more students, the inaugural class size will depend on the amount of partnerships for clinical rotations. Officials say it will include at least 50 students at the start.
The two-year program will include a clinical rotation to gain real world experience in counseling and psychiatric hospitals.
“We’re looking at establishing a clinical rotation that will get students heavily into the community,” he said.
He said many people came together to make the new profession happen.
“This is a big project, to create a whole new profession like this,” he said. “We couldn’t do it without these partners executing that reality It’s a great victory for mental health and substance abuse treatment here in Ohio.”
Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or [email protected].
link
