Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) (left) speaks with Charlie Pope, 19, of Greenville, a former Dayton Children’s patient. On Friday, May 15, as Husted toured Dayton Children’s Center’s new Mental Health and Wellness Center, Pope spoke about how Dayton Children’s Center helped her during a mental health crisis she experienced several years ago. Sam Wildow / Staff
During a visit to the Dayton area, Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) took the opportunity to tour Dayton Children’s Center’s new McIl Mental Health and Wellness Center, learn about the program, and meet with former patients who overcame their own mental health challenges with the help of Dayton Children’s Center.
Located at 860 Valley St. within Dayton Children’s Hospital’s main facility in Dayton, the Masire Center doubles the space for mental health treatment at Dayton Children’s Hospital and is the culmination of years of planning, fundraising and construction.
“We know the range of challenges young people face,” Husted said. “And Dayton Children’s has stepped up to be the place to go in times of crisis.”
Michel Mathire, member of the Mathire Family Foundation and representative of the Mathire family, told how the Mathire family worked together to donate to the hospital that would later bear their name.
“When we had the opportunity to come together as a family, it was the first time all three generations of our family had donated together. We knew that if we wanted to donate anything, this was what we wanted to donate,” Matire said.
It was also the first time that families were allowed to use their names for names of buildings.
“We felt it was important to break that stigma,” Matire said. “Mental health affects everyone.”
Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) answers questions and talks about the importance of mental health as Debbie Feldman (right), outgoing president and CEO of Dayton Children’s Center, speaks after touring the Dayton Children’s Center for Mental Health and Wellness on Friday, May 15. Sam Wildow/Staff
The $110 million, three-story facility has 48 beds, each of which costs about $100,000, and is equipped with technology and safety features to protect children from self-harm.
“Children today face more challenges than ever before, and we want to ensure that every child in the Miami Valley, and across our nation and state, has access to the mental health services they need,” Husted said.
Mental health issues exacerbated by technology
Husted said two things that make growing up even more difficult for children and young people in the 21st century are mobile phones and social media.
“Some of them come from difficult family backgrounds. Some of them face a lot of pressure in their lives, and it’s these things that make it more difficult than ever,” Husted said, holding up her phone. “I think smartphones with the algorithms that are built into these phones are often very harmful to young people and creating a mental health crisis for them and their lives.”
As parents and families learn and adapt best practices for their children regarding cell phone and social media use, Dr. Kelly Blankenship, associate director of mental health at Dayton Children’s Center, spoke about the importance of developing healthy coping skills.
When Husted asked about the types of mental health challenges he’s currently seeing among youth at Dayton Children’s Center, Blankenship said, “It’s a lot of depression and a lot of anxiety.”
From left to right: Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio; Charlie Pope, 19, of Greenville, is a former Dayton Children’s patient. Tiffany Pope, Charlie’s mother. Dr. Kelly Blankenship, Deputy Chief of Mental Health at Dayton Children’s Hospital. Michelle Machile, member of the Machire Family Foundation and representative of the Machire family, speaks during a tour of the new Machire Mental Health Center in Husted on Friday, May 15. Sam Wildow/Staff
Blankenship said there are many theories about the causes behind the most common mental illnesses children face.
But what children need is to develop resilience when it comes to their mental health.
“Something will happen to them in their life and they won’t have the coping skills they need to know how to deal with it,” Blankenship says.
When children and youth need help coping with pressures, the Masire Center provides inpatient and outpatient services, as well as helping families find resources and health care providers in the community.
Youth Mental Health Advocate
One of Dayton Children’s Behavioral Health Crisis Center former patients, Charlie Pope, 19, and his mother, Tiffany Pope, had the opportunity to share their story with Husted.
Charlie Pope said of what brought him to the crisis center in the first place. She said she had stressors in her life that made her feel like she was drowning in them.
“Being in an inpatient facility slows everything down and allows me to talk to specialists. I didn’t have to focus on the academic or social aspects.”
Surrounded by professionals and away from the phones and social pressures, Charlie Pope learned coping mechanisms and gained the knowledge, support, and health plan he needed to not only help himself, but become a youth mental health advocate. In 2023, she traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak with members of Congress about her journey and the mental health crisis facing young people.
Charlie Pope told other young people who may be going through difficult times that they are not alone and that it is okay to ask for help.
“Communication is key. You are not struggling alone,” she said.
“Everyone is going through their own personal struggles, but it can be helped, and the first step is to talk to someone.”
The senator said technology such as smartphones is putting pressure on young people’s mental health.
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