Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article indicated that HB 172 was specific to trans teens in crisis. This piece has been updated to reflect that HB 172 would eliminate this support for all youth 14-17.
Ohio Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill to eliminate mental health resources without parental consent for teens experiencing a crisis.
House Bill (HB) 172 – introduced on March 12 – would remove an exception that currently allows youth age 14-17 to access:
- Outpatient services from a mental health professional without parental consent if there is a “substantial probability of harm to the minor or to other persons.”
- No more than six sessions or 30 days of the above services, whichever occurs sooner.
The exception has been present in the Ohio Revised Code since 1989.
HB 172 is sponsored by Rep. Johnathan Newman (R-Troy), a first-term legislator and a “pastor entrepreneur” who serves as the pastor of counseling at a megachurch in western Ohio and has theology degrees from institutions where identifying as LGBTQ+ is grounds for removal.
Rep. Newman did not respond to multiple requests – phone calls, emails and website submission forms – to comment on the legislation.
Ohio mental health experts say the need to provide these specific outpatient services without parental consent comes up rarely but is critical.
Liam Strausbaugh, a practice associate with the National Association of Social Workers (Ohio Chapter), said these sessions usually are only provided when there is an immediate threat to safety and the parents can’t be reached, or when a minor is seeking support in a crisis and there is safety concern regarding their parents’ response.
”Those handful of sessions are used really just to help process through an event, experience or thought to help that teen wrap their mind around a certain situation before bringing it to their parents,” Strausbaugh said. “ These are usually pretty unique and usually critical circumstances.”
Despite their infrequency, Strausburgh stressed that these six sessions still serve an essential clinical support service for Ohio teens.
“Eradicating those sessions will leave a lot of teens in the state without access to the necessary mental health services that they might need when they need them most,” Strausburgh said.
Rep. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Twp.) agrees. The first-term legislator is a clinical social worker whose work has focused on improving mental health outcomes for children, adolescents and families.
In her many years of practice in school settings, she said she rarely provided mental health services to a minor without parental consent, and only then when a student was in true crisis: suicidal, harmful to others or reported abuse/neglect by another person
“This is not a stubbed toe or a [student] feeling sad.,” Rep. Brownlee said. “This is an immediate crisis where there is physical, acute danger.”
From her perspective as an elected official, Brownlee said that HB 172 is a “distraction” that amounts to “legislating from a bully pulpit against young people” in a way that will not make them want to stay in Ohio.
“30% of Gen Z identify as LGBTQ+,” Brownlee said. “If Ohio is facing a workplace shortage, why are we scaring young people from staying here?” 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- The Buckeye Flame’s Ohio LGBTQ+ legislation guide for 2025 can be found here.
- If you are a young LGBTQ+ person in crisis, please contact the Trevor Project: 866-4-U-Trevor.
- If you are an transgender adult in need of immediate help, contact the National Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
- To register to vote or to check your voter eligibility status in the state of Ohio, click here.
- To find contact information for your Ohio state representative, click here.
- To find contact information for your Ohio state senator, click here.
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