Mental health is one of the biggest health deficiencies that puts Ohio at the bottom of state rankings, and racial disparities continue to impact residents, according to new data from the state institute.
At the Ohio Health Policy Institute 2024 Health Value DashboardOhio ranks 44th out of 50 states in “health value,” which the institute defines as “a combination of measures of population health and health spending.”
“This means people in Ohio are living less healthy lives and spending more on health care than people in most other states,” the report says.
The dashboard covers population health and health spending, as well as categories such as access to care, public health and prevention, health systems, and social and economic environment.
Areas where Ohio is “significantly worsening” include unmet needs for preventive dental care for children, early diagnosis of colon and rectal cancer, and mental health treatment for adults.
One group disproportionately affected by mental health needs is the state's LGBTQ+ community. According to HPIO data, suicide rates for LGBTQ+ Ohio youth are 4.8 times worse than heterosexual/cisgender youth, and suicide attempts are 4.3 times higher than for the same group.
Overall, the mental health of youth in Ohio's LGBTQ+ community is 2.6 times worse than other youth groups, research compiled from federal and state resources found.
This data was released after the bill recently overcame the governor's veto. Preventing minors from receiving gender-affirming care and other bills. Regulate toilet useFor example, the Ohio General Assembly remains active.
“Policies and practices that limit access to necessary health care and lack protections for Ohioans based on sexual orientation and gender identity result in worse health outcomes for LGBTQ+ people compared to straight and cisgender people.” “This is a contributing factor to the increase in
According to the study, blacks in Ohio continue to face disparities, with treatment in health care settings 13.7 times worse than black residents because of their race, and black children 9.4 times more likely to be treated than whites. They are said to be subject to unfair treatment due to their species.
HPIO researchers found that 189,344 fewer Black Ohioans would experience racial discrimination in health care if the state worked to eliminate disparities.
“Examples of policies and institutions that contribute to disparities in outcomes include discrimination and unfair treatment in hiring and financing, disinvestment in public transportation and public education, and the legacy of redlining and zoning policies. HPIO states in its “Stock Profile'': It was part of the 2024 dashboard.
Redlining is a method of preventing residents in certain areas from obtaining a mortgage for a home or other housing option, especially areas where people of color live.
Unequal treatment of other groups also exists in Ohio, with Asian Ohioans 9.4 times more likely than white residents to experience unequal treatment than black residents. Consistently, Hispanic/Latino residents are 8.5 times more likely than whites to experience unfair treatment based on race. community.
Food insecurity spans many groups, with low-income Ohioans experiencing 91.1 times more food insecurity than other income levels, and black Ohioans experiencing 3.5 times more food insecurity as children than white households. It becomes.
But the report wasn't completely gloomy. Ohio has made “significant improvements” in areas such as access to primary care, hospital support for breastfeeding and infant care, early diagnosis of female breast cancer, unemployment, and voter turnout and registration.
HPIO researchers found that Ohio's rate of uninsured residents “has declined significantly over the past decade and is lower than most other states,” but all state residents have He recommended that more efforts be made to ensure access to care.
“Many Ohioans face high out-of-pocket medical costs, and Ohioans are more likely than people in most other states to be treated in emergency departments, which can increase costs. Yes,” the report states.
The institute recommended the creation of a commission to “examine the key drivers of high health care costs and ways to lower costs for consumers and employers,” and to increase the workforce of health care providers. It also called for strengthening the “accuracy and adequacy of health care provider networks.” ”
Other recommendations made by HPIO include increasing food access for Ohioans through the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, telehealth services and peer mentoring for youth, and more. included improved access to mental health services. program.
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