Suicide remains a public health concern, as an estimated 703,000 people die by it each year worldwide. Researchers found that brief cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce suicide attempts by as much as 60%, and those sessions were in person.
From
To
The school has joined up with Health Partners of Western Ohio to bring the option of telehealth to students. The staff are making final preparations Monday. The nurse will hear what is wrong with the student. Then they will ask the parents if they'd like to do a telehealth visit. Using a piece of equipment, the provider will be able to hear the child's breathing, examine the throat, ears, eyes, and more. Prescriptions could then be written if they need it.
Portman met with members of the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services on the impact of COVID-19 on drug addiction treatment. In a recent Washington Post report, the state of Ohio has seen increases in both fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses in the months of March, April, and May of this year, compared to the same months in 2019. The pandemic has temporarily allowed telehealth services to be used to help people battling addiction. Portman is working on making this option permanent with new legislation.