Grievances
In Ohio’s mental health system, concerns or complaints are addressed through the grievance process. This process supports recovery and assures people are heard. It also empowers individuals receiving services to become self advocates and provide input to make the system better for everyone.
Options for Resolving Grievances
Grievance is an important right for people receiving mental health services. A grievance can be filed by the individual receiving the services, by an agency on behalf of the individual or by any other person involved. Concerns or complaints may be addressed either informally or formally.
Informally: People receiving public mental health services have the right to informally discuss their concerns and complaints. Explaining the situation to a staff member or a client rights officer often resolves the issue.
Formally: People receiving public mental health services also have the right to have their concerns and complaints heard formally through the written grievance process. In addition, they have the right to oral and written instructions for filing a grievance. Every mental health provider must have a person whose job it is to help file grievances. According to Ohio law, service providers must post the grievance procedure in a place where it is easily seen and make copies available to clients when requested.
The decision about a grievance is called a resolution. If someone is not satisfied with the decision or answer, he or she can appeal. An appeal is a request for a review of the answer.
To appeal an agency’s answer to your grievance, contact your county’s Mental Health Board online or call 614-224-1111.
- Ask for the client rights officer (CRO) at the mental health board.
- Tell the CRO that you want to file an appeal on the agency’s answer to your grievance.
- If you are not satisfied with their response, you can appeal their decision to the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) using the instructions below.
To appeal a hospital or mental health board's answer to your grievance, contact ODMH’s Office of Consumer Advocacy and Protection (CAP).
877-275-6364 (family and consumers only)
614-466-7228 (all others)
TTY 888-636-4889
- Ask to speak with the office of Consumer Advocacy and Protection.
- Tell them you want to file an appeal on the hospital’s or county mental health board's answer to your grievance.
If you need assistance at any time during the grievance or appeal process, contact one of the agencies listed below. For agencies with no TTY/TDD number listed, call the Ohio Relay Service TTY at 711 or 800-750-0750.
Ohio Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc. (CSD of Ohio)
877-781-6670 (both voice and TTY)
Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC)
614-221-7841
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-Ohio)
800-686-2646
Mental Health America
800-969-6642
Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS)
800-282-9181 / TTY 800-858-3542
County Mental Health Board
614-224-1111
ODMH Office of Consumer Advocacy and Protection
877-275-6364 (family and consumer only)
614-466-7228 (all others)
TTY 888-636-4889