About the State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience (SOAR) Wellness Discovery Survey

Ohio is stronger with healthy individuals, families, and communities, but mental and physical illness are barriers to realizing their full potential for too many Ohioans. Ohio has seen a rise in mental illness, suicide, substance use, and deaths related to drug and alcohol overdose over the past decade, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made these problems worse.

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is committed to helping Ohioans overcome these challenges.

The SOAR Wellness Discovery Survey is a research study to help OhioMHAS understand the current state of mental health wellness across Ohio. Exploring the kinds of stresses and adversities faced by Ohioans, as well as the kinds of resources and forms of coping they use that promote resilience and wellness, will help OhioMHAS develop programs to help all Ohioans in their communities.

We appreciate your willingness to help us learn more about adversity and resilience in Ohio via this statewide survey.

Note: The survey length is 50 minutes and will close when the quota is met.

About the SOAR Studies

The SOAR Wellness Discovery Survey is the first step in a long term study, and one of several research studies led by the Ohio State University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health in partnership with other public universities across Ohio with initial funding from the OhioMHAS.

The purpose of the SOAR studies is to identify and better understand the underlying root causes contributing to risk for suicide and overdose deaths and to discover ways we can increase resilience to prevent these deaths.

These studies are set up to continue for many years, so scientists can understand patterns in resilience and coping in people and families across generations. The goal is to help families and communities increases skills, supports and opportunities for improved wellness. Such work can also support discovery of new resilience skills to learn and teach, and avenues to new treatments. We intend that this work will improve and save the lives of future generations of Ohioans.

FAQs

What does the survey cover?

The survey covers mental health problems, like distress, substance use problems, and thoughts of self-harm, as well as exposures to forms of adversity and trauma throughout one's life, social networks and social support, styles of coping with problems, and general attitudes. We will also ask you for some demographic information that will help us understand patterns in the data. All of the information you give us will be kept confidential.

How long will the survey take?

The survey length is 50 minutes and will close when the quota is met.

Will the answers I give really be safe?

Our security measures follow standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. We follow strict rules, and we are regularly checked for compliance. We have never had data taken from us or a respondent's identity revealed.

How will my data be used?

The data we collect will have all personal information removed and then be turned over to an analysis team for detailed study. The only things reported from the survey will be summary statistical findings that cannot be used to identify any respondent.

How was I selected?

We randomly selected individuals from a list of all known adults who reside in the 88 counties of Ohio. This process is called an equal probability of selection method (EPSEM) sampling.

What happens if I don't cooperate?

Once individuals have been selected to participate, they cannot be replaced. Depending on where you live, you may be representing hundreds or even thousands of other people like you. Without your cooperation, when it comes to programs developed to help with mental health wellness, you and all those people you represent will lose their voice. You are always free not to participate or to stop at any point during the survey.

How soon will I get my payment?

It usually takes us up to fifteen working days to submit your payment request, and then you should receive a notification by text or email. That notification will give you a Virtual Incentive Reward Link where you can choose from a variety of e-gift cards or donate to non-profit organizations.

The payment email/text or mailing will be coming from Virtual Incentives who distributes our survey payments. For email, if payment is not in your inbox, please check your Spam/Junk folder.

Once you have received your incentive reward, you will have 90 days to claim your e-gift card or activate your physical gift card. Physical gift cards expire six months after activation.