With increasing talk about a growing sense of anxiety and fragile mental wellbeing, it makes sense that some Ohioans are seeking needed mental health care. For most of them, finding timely care is a challenge.

Health Policy Institute of Ohio says 75 of the state’s 88 counties are mental health shortage areas, according to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal.

Only 11 facilities in Ohio offer youth inpatient services, the study found. The only counties that are not mental health shortage areas are Hancock, Marion, Delaware, Montgomery, Butler, Clermont, Lorain, Ashland, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Trumbull and Mahoning.

Fifty-three counties do not have a child psychiatrist, and only seven counties have more than ten.

At the same time, the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Services Providers says there was a 353% surge in demand for behavioral health services between 2013 and 2019. Anecdotal evidence suggests that demand has continued to increase.

“We just simply don’t have enough people to provide care for the people that need care,” said council CEO Teresa Lampl, according to the Capital Journal.

There aren’t enough facilities or practitioners, there is a problem with mental health care reimbursement rates and — what might come as a surprise — there is an “insurance parity” issue.

She called the situation a “math problem,” but it is one policymakers and health care companies will have to work quickly to address. The last thing Ohio can afford is for supply to diminish as demand for mental and behavioral health care only continues to increase.