Youngstown Ohio – A Community Facing Mental Health and Substance Use Challenges

Youngstown’s story is deeply affected by economic changes. Losing industrial jobs, long-term unemployment, and population decline have affected how people live and behave in daily life. These pressures are not only financial. They show up in stress levels, family strain, substance use, and an increased concern about mental health issues in the city of Youngstown.

Local reporting and public health data point to a shared reality. Many people in Youngstown are dealing with mental distress while trying to navigate a lack of resources, making the pressure of the problems increase.

Depression and Mental Distress Across the Community

The Mahoning County Community Health Assessment highlights how mental health has become more of a concern for many communities across America. A significant portion of adults reported a need for help with emotional or psychological difficulties. Many residents described periods of depression or anxiety that interfered with work, relationships, and daily responsibilities.

Additional findings reflect how widespread the strain has become within Mahoning County:

• More than one-third of adults report poor mental or bodily health on at least one day in the past month.
• A large share of African American residents reported multiple days of poor mental health within a thirty-day period.
• Suicide attempts were reported across age groups, with elevated risk among middle-aged white men.

These numbers do not exist in a vacuum. They reflect ongoing stressors tied to employment instability, neighborhood decline, and limited access to care. 

Poverty, Unemployment, and Isolation

According to DataUSA, over thirty-five percent of Youngstown residents live below the poverty line. This rate is far above national averages. Poverty is significantly tied to depression, anxiety, and substance use, especially when combined with housing instability and unreliable transportation.

Community discussions summarized in local reporting by Mahoning Matters echo these concerns. Residents described difficulty affording mental health services, even when insured. Others shared that they were unsure where to seek help or felt discouraged by lack of access to available appointments.

Stigma remains another barrier. Men, particularly Black men and Latino residents, reported reluctance to pursue counseling stigma and feared pressure from peers. Community members also identified a need for services that would be culturally aware and possibly bilingual. 

Substance Use and Suicide Risk

Substance use continues to place added pressure on families and emergency systems. County data show a sharp rise in unintentional drug overdose deaths over the past two decades. This increase highlights the opioid crisis but has had a distinct local impact, affecting working adults, parents, and older residents alike.

Alcohol and tobacco use remain common, with higher occurrence with individuals earning lower incomes. When substance use overlaps with overlooked mental health issues, the risk of hospitalization can increase significantly.

Access to Care

While most Mahoning County residents report having some form of health insurance, far fewer report receiving regular medical or behavioral health care, barriers cited in the community health assessment include cost, insurance limitations, transportation challenges, perceived discrimination, and a shortage of available providers.

Local leaders interviewed by Mahoning Matters described hospitals and crisis services as unable to meet behavioral health demand. This in turn creates a scenario where individuals will only seek help only during emergencies rather than receiving consistent outpatient support.

Faith-Based Counseling in the Youngstown Area

In response to these challenges, faith communities continue to play an important role in preventing people from dealing with these issues in isolation. At Christian Counseling Associates, we work within the Youngstown region to provide counseling that is both Christian and clinically excellent. Our licensed counselors support individuals, couples, and families facing any number of issues, including trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues and substance use concerns.

We serve the area through nearby locations, including:

• Columbiana CCA, 39 Cherry Street, Columbiana
  
• Girard CCA, 2722 West Liberty Street, Girard
  
• Cortland CCA, 2576 McCleary Jacoby Road, Cortland
  
• Boardman CCA, 388 East Midlothian Boulevard, Youngstown

We also provide Counseling support in partnerships with the Geauga Family Mission and Warren Family Mission in order to support individuals and families facing housing instability. 

Youngstown continues to deal with many issues stemming from the economic and social realities that have developed over many years. At the same time, the city is supported by committed providers and faith organizations that aim to build stronger communities.

References

• Mahoning County Public Health. (2019). Community health assessment and planning.
  https://www.mahoninghealth.org/community-health-assessment-and-planning/
• Mahoning Matters. (2024). Mental health services stretched as demand grows in Mahoning County.
  https://www.mahoningmatters.com/news/local/article288966335.html
• Data USA. (2024). Youngstown, OH.
  https://datausa.io/profile/geo/youngstown-oh/