OHIO — A study examining mental wellness of youth is now accepting participants along the western side of the Buckeye State.
 
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is working toward identifying the causes of the epidemic of emotional distress, suicide and drug overdose through the State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience (SOAR Study). Through the next phase, participants are being accepted at Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center.
 

What You Need To Know

  • St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, Ohio, is accepting participants for the SOAR Study

  • The study is working to understand the mental health epidemic in younger generations

  • There is an online survey and a physical component to understand mental wellness 

  • The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services is helping fund the study through a $20 million grant
 
“Mercy Health is proud to host SOAR at St. Rita’s Medical Center to further extend the reach of this important research among the Western Ohio community,” said Ronda Lehman, the president of Mercy Health — Lima. “By supporting this important research, we hope that as an industry, we can better understand the root causes of addiction and mental health challenges. It’s our hope that the information gleaned will not only inform our own approach but also support the health and resilience of communities across Ohio and beyond.”
 
At St. Rita's Medical Center, participants who can be enrolled must be ages 12 and up. Through the survey, the mental health of 15,000 Ohioans across all 88 counties will be assessed through an online survey, and the Brain Health Study will use in-person visits to use an MRI for brain scans with 1,200 Ohio families.
 
"SOAR is taking a transformational step toward redesigning the future of mental health care to benefit all Ohioans. Thanks to support from the State of Ohio and our academic and community partners, we’re able to strategically deploy the SOAR mobile MRI unit and bring high-impact science and innovation directly to the people, reaching patients who are integral to the project's success,” said Dr. John J. Warner, chief executive officer of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and executive vice president at Ohio State.
 
The project is funded by a $20 million grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
 
For more information on the study or how to participate, click here.