wellness
Columbus Residents Choose Between GPs, Psychologists, Counsellors for Mental Health
Columbus residents sorting through stress have distinct routes to care based on symptom severity and duration.
How we reported this
Franklin County residents booked 2,400 more initial mental health appointments in the first half of 2026 than in the same period last year.
Work deadlines along High Street and family schedules in Bexley have pushed stress symptoms higher this summer, prompting local clinics to extend evening slots through August.
Start with a GP on North High Street
The Columbus Public Health clinic at 240 Parsons Avenue screens patients for basic medical causes of fatigue or sleep trouble before any referral. A GP visit there costs $85 for uninsured adults and typically runs 20 minutes, covering blood pressure checks and medication reviews. Patients who report panic attacks lasting more than two weeks usually receive a same-week referral to a psychologist.
Psychologists at the Central Ohio Mental Health Center on North High Street conduct structured assessments that can take 90 minutes and focus on diagnosis and treatment planning. Their intake fee starts at $175, and sessions often include cognitive tools tested against Franklin County outcome data from 2025.
When a counsellor fits the schedule
Counsellors at the German Village location of the Ohio Counseling Network, 600 South Third Street, handle ongoing stress from job changes or caregiving without requiring a formal diagnosis. Weekly 50-minute sessions run $110 and can begin within five days of a call. Staff there track progress with simple weekly mood logs rather than full diagnostic batteries.
Anyone unsure of the next step can call the Franklin County Mental Health Board hotline at 614-221-1477 before 5 p.m. on weekdays for a five-minute routing guide. The board logged 1,850 such calls in June 2026, with 62 percent directed first to a GP.