From the Medical Director’s Desk: Expanding Mental Health and Addiction Care in Ohio’s Underserved Communities
By Dr. Rose O. Uradu, MD
In towns and rural counties across Ohio, the need for accessible mental health and addiction treatment is greater than ever. Yet, far too many communities are still left waiting; waiting for care, waiting for hope, waiting for a system that meets them where they are.
As a physician who has worked in addiction medicine for more than 15 years, and as someone deeply committed to the recovery and wellness of individuals in our region, I believe we must do more to ensure every person has the support they need. This is not just a public health issue, it is a moral one.
The Mental Health Crisis in Ohio
Ohio has been on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic for over a decade. But substance use is just one layer of the struggle. Depression, PTSD, anxiety, grief, and chronic economic stress are woven into the lives of our patients especially in communities that have been economically and socially marginalized.
The statistics are sobering:
Ohio consistently ranks among the states with the highest rates of overdose deaths.
Suicide rates have increased in both rural and urban areas.
Shortages of addiction treatment physicians, addiction trained psychiatrists and mental health professionals make timely care nearly impossible in some counties.
And yet, even with these urgent needs, people are still turned away because a clinic doesn’t take their insurance. Or because the nearest provider is hours away. Or because the stigma around addiction or trauma keeps them silent.
What Patients in Small Communities Are Facing
In our work across Ohio, we hear the same stories again and again:
“I was judged when I shared my addiction history”
“I was on a waiting list for three months.”
“There’s no one in town who takes Medicaid.”
“I want help, but I can’t get off work to drive two hours.”
“I don’t feel safe talking to anyone here.”
These aren’t isolated cases. They’re symptoms of a broken system; one that continues to make care conditional, hard to access, and out of touch with the realities of people’s lives.
Addiction Treatment as a Lifeline
At Amazing Grace Center, we believe addiction treatment should be safe, accessible, and without shame.
We offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with methadone and buprenorphine, integrated with counseling, case management, and mental health support. But our work is not just about medication, it’s about relationship, trust, and dignity.
For many of our patients, walking through our doors is a turning point. They find a team that welcomes them without judgment, and providers who understand that addiction doesn’t happen on it’s own; it happens alongside trauma, poverty, isolation, and mental health struggles.
The Need for Integrated Mental Health Services
One of the most urgent needs in our communities is the integration of mental health care into addiction treatment programs. So many patients with opioid use disorder are also living with:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Major depressive disorder
Anxiety and panic
Grief and loss
Bipolar disorder or psychosis
Yet mental health is often treated as a separate issue. Patients are referred elsewhere, placed on waitlists, or told to “come back later.” We must move toward collaborative, interdisciplinary care — where addiction and mental health are addressed together, under one roof.
Telehealth and the Virtual Care Revolution
The expansion of telehealth during the pandemic showed us what’s possible when barriers are removed. Patients were able to:
Attend appointments without transportation
Access Suboxone treatment from home
Get therapy or medication management through their phone
At Amazing Grace Center, our virtual mental health services now reach Medicaid and Medicare patients in rural towns and under-resourced cities alike. The model works especially for people who have been historically excluded from traditional care systems.
But reimbursement for virtual services is still unstable. Many payers don’t recognize the value of virtual psychiatry, or place restrictions on providers that limit access. We need permanent policy support for telehealth, especially in mental health and addiction treatment.
Advocating for What Works
Here’s what we know works:
Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) save lives
Culturally competent care improves engagement
Integrated mental health services reduce relapse and improve quality of life
Telehealth expands access and keeps patients connected
We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We need to invest in what’s already working and make it available to more people.
What Our Community Needs
More funding and expansion for MAT clinics in small towns and rural counties
Reimbursement for telehealth services in psychiatry and addiction care
Increased training and recruitment of mental health professionals in underserved areas
State support for integrated mental health/addiction clinics with same-day access
Community partnerships that reduce stigma and offer long-term recovery support
A Future Where Everyone Has a Chance
This work is about more than services. It’s about building systems of care rooted in equity, compassion, and trust. Every person deserves access to healing; not just in cities or large institutions, but in the towns where we live, work, and raise our families.
We are committed to that future. And we invite policymakers, payers, clinicians, and community members to join us in making it real.