THE MENTAL health system in Ohio is in dire straits. Some even believe it is on the verge of collapse.

The crisis is a result of the state’s ongoing and substantial financial problems. Over the past three years, Ohio’s mental-health programs have been slashed by 35 percent.

A cutback of that magnitude is going to create major headaches for any program or agency. Unfortunately, this time a group of individuals in great need of help is impacted.

We view that as inhumane.

Ohio lays claim to more than 400,000 people suffering from mental illness, ranging from depression to schizophrenia to post-traumatic stress disorder. All are serious maladies that require quality attention.

Unfortunately, such treatment falls by the wayside due to the financial constraints encountered by the state, which has cut $100 million from mental-health services in that last three years.

Compounding matters is there is no end in sight to the downward spiral.

The state budget will continue to be a battle ground.

While mental health cutbacks may slow or end, there is no substantial additional funding coming down the pike.

Moreover, both gubernatorial candidates — Democratic incumbent Ted Strickland and Republican John Kasich — have verbally supported mental health services. As the cliche goes, “talk is cheap,” as neither hopeful has mapped out a plan to solve the funding shortcoming.

Countless mentally ill individuals are being put out on the streets, as room in state-supported institutions and community-based houses is becoming increasingly hard to secure.

We do not have the answers to the state funding crisis, but we do know that state lawmakers — with the gubernatorial winner leading the charge — need to identify and make available increased money to aid the mentally ill.