COLUMBUS, Ohio. (WSAZ) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has made an announcement to provide immediate in-person assistance to youth suffering from a mental health crisis that will operate statewide in all 88 counties, according to a press release from the Governor’s office.
The Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) was previously only available in 56 counties in Ohio, according to the release.
Ohio MRSS Regional Map(Mike DeWine, Governor’s Office)
The Governor’s office said, “MRSS is available at no cost for children and young adults aged 20 and under who are experiencing mental, emotional, or behavioral diseases.”
“Far too many are struggling with their mental health, and parents and caregivers don’t know where to turn when their child needs help,” Governor DeWine said. “MRSS provides that immediate help to all young people, no matter where in Ohio they are.”
The release says that parents, educators, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, peers, and any young person in crisis is encouraged to call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 and request MRSS.
After contact, a team of trained professionals, including a licensed clinician, will respond to the location of the person in crisis, with safety being a top priority, according to the release.
The expansion comes after Governor DeWine’s April announcement that the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) worked together to make the MRSS program possible, according to DeWine’s office.
To make sure coverage is offered state-wide, 12 providers were selected to serve across all 88 counties in Ohio, according to the release.
DBH Interim Director Tia Marcel Moretti said in a statement that, “With MRSS, there is no threshold for what defines a crisis.”
“If it is a crisis to a caller, then MRSS will respond,” Moretti said. “Responders calm the situation, help make a safety plan, and provide resources for ongoing support. Upon consent from a parent or guardian, MRSS also includes up to 42 days of coordinated stabilization services. This includes skill-building and connection to community resources.”
The release states that between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, there were over 10,000 calls to MRSS, primarily due to suicidality.
At this time, the mobile response program is available to youth between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, while tele-response teams will be available overnight with an in-person visit the following day. All regional providers are expected to have MRSS available to patients seven days a week by April of 2028.
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