Cleveland campus of Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare to close | Business

The Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) announced it will close its Cleveland campus of Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare and direct resources and inpatient care to its facility in Summit County.

Four years ago, ODMH allocated $8 million in capital funds for development of a new hospital to be built on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland’s Ward 7.  Those dollars will be allocated to other facilities within the system.

“If we want to help residents with mental health issues, and combat the effects of mental health in our community, we have to be proactive on the front end,” said Councilman TJ Dow.  “Community leaders, medical professionals and residents know about the issues that can come from mental health – homelessness, crime, addiction etc.  As a former prosecutor for Cuyahoga County, I saw it firsthand time and again.   This facility is accessible to inner city residents who are in need of treatment, but are limited in how they can access help.  Transferring this facility outside of Cuyahoga County will not help Cleveland residents who do not have the means to travel to Summit County.  The new proposed hospital in ward 7, which ODMH will abandon, would have meant better facilities, better treatment, better access and good paying jobs for Clevelanders.  ODMH’s action is not a step in prevention or treatment, it will become a contributor.”