The mental-health system in Ohio needs improvement at nearly every level because too many people who need help aren't getting it, according to a report issued Friday by a statewide commission.

        After more than a year of meetings, the 18-member Ohio Mental Health Commission issued an “action agenda” Friday that includes 37 recommendations for change.

        “The public mental health safety net is stretched too thin,” the report states. “Statewide, the supply of mental-health services does not meet current demand and will not meet increasing demand in the future.”

        Among its many goals, the commission calls for expanded and reorganized state mental-health spending, especially for children, the elderly and people with combinations of mental illness and substance abuse.

        The group urges Ohio law makers to pass a mental-health parity law that would require of private insurers equal coverage for mental illness and other kinds of illness.

        It supports creating mental-health courts, a suicide reduction initiative, more school-based mental-health services, and changes to Medicaid and other programs that make it hard for people to maintain treatments when they return to work.

        While acknowledging the need for improved mental-health care, Gov. Bob Taft also said there isn't much room in the budget with revenue growth slowing and education and Medicaid targeted as top priorities.

        “Given the state's current fiscal limitations, we must focus our efforts carefully and use existing resources to their maximum potential,” Gov. Taft said.

        In his new budget, Gov. Taft calls for less than 2 percent annual increases in mental-health funds while a coalition of mental-health groups had urged a two-year, 19 percent increase.

Mental health proposals

        Highlights of 37 recommendations issued Friday from an 18-member Ohio Mental Health Commission:

        • Funding support: Make a strong commitment to increasing state funding for mental health because it has declined since 1990 after factoring in inflation.

        Seek a Medicaid waiver to reduce a fiscal drain on agencies caused by Medicaid contracts.

        • Access to care: Pass a mental health parity law to reduce “artificial limits that prohibit adequate coverage of mental illness” among private insurers.

        Develop more early-intervention programs for children with mental illness.

        Develop more services that focus on senior citizens, including suicide prevention and targeted anti-stigma programs.

        Eliminate regulations in Medicaid and other programs that prevent people from continuing medications and treatment if they get a job.

        Push federal agencies to support housing programs focused on people with mental illness.

        • System design: Push for more coordination of child services now split among mental health, substance abuse, juvenile justice and child welfare agencies.

        Launch pilot mental health courts that send some nonviolent mentally ill offenders to treatment instead of jail.

        Promote more cooperation between mental health and substance abuse agencies.

        • Improving quality: Promote awareness of findings and treatments developed through new research.

        Create incentives for mental health agencies to adopt scientifically proven treatment methods.

        Promote more cultural awareness in mental health treatment.

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