Mental health services on the Ohio Northern University campus will now be provided by Mercy Health – St. Rita's, which is part of a Catholic health care ministry with locations in Ohio and Kentucky.
Beginning August 1, 2024, the ONU Student Counseling Center is staffed and managed by Mercy Health. The announcement notes that "All current staff members have been invited to continue in their roles under Mercy Health's management, ensuring a seamless transition and continuity of care for students. Mercy Health first partnered with ONU to oversee its on-campus Student Health Center in 2023."
The announcement comes on the heels of major staffing cuts at the university in Spring 2024.
The new collaboration is described as a "strategic partnership" by Ronda Lehman, President of Mercy Health – Lima and "one more step in enhancing access to high-quality health care on ONU’s campus.”
ONU President Melissa J. Baumann comments, “We’re excited to expand our relationship with Mercy Health to add mental health services to their health care offerings on campus, giving our community additional access to the expertise and resources of a top national and regional health care provider.”
Mercy Health—ONU Health Center currently only serves students, but plans call for its primary care services to be available to ONU faculty and staff in the future.
The health center is located inside the Lakeview apartment complex, behind the Freed Center for the Performing Arts. It is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, phone 419-226-4520.
