I’ve been talking with my clients a lot recently about how to manage anxiety and stress. We’re all experiencing probably a higher level of anxiety than what we’re used to. Some people have a lot of skills for managing that and some of us don’t
Our need for human connection is so powerful that it is essential to our physical and mental well-being.
To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends social distancing. This means that individuals are encouraged to limit unnecessary social contact.
In response, many people are changing the way they conduct business—including therapists. Meeting with a therapist might place both you and the therapist at a higher risk of catching (and spreading) the virus. In addition, any other staff members or patients you come in contact with in the waiting room may also increase the risk that the virus will be spread.
To reduce in-person contact, some therapists are starting to offer online treatment. Whether meeting via video or phone, virtual therapy appointments aren’t the same as meeting face-to-face, so it’s important to educate yourself about what to expect and how it may impact your treatment.
Differences Between In-Person and Online Treatment
There are some big differences between online therapy and face-to-face therapy. And while online treatment can be convenient for some people—especially during the coronavirus pandemic—it does have some potential drawbacks.
Keeping the Same Therapist
If you’re already attending therapy, you may want to ask your therapist about any virtual treatment options if you’re concerned about social distancing. Your therapist, of course, may bring it up first as well.
But before agreeing to do it, it’s important to consider how your treatment may change if you aren’t meeting face-to-face.
Ask how your therapist will be providing treatment. Will you speak over the phone? Can you communicate via video chat? Can you send emails or messages?
Have a conversation about any concerns you may have. Discuss what you’ll do if you run into any obstacles while trying to conduct online therapy. You may encounter practical problems, like technical glitches, or you may discover that either your progress slows or your appointments don’t seem to be as effective.
Having a candid discussion about the obstacles you might encounter as well as how you can address issues if they arise can be very helpful. When you have a plan in place, you’ll feel more confident about your ability to make the best of online therapy.
Remember, there’s always a chance you might even like online or phone therapy better than face-to-face therapy.
After all, you’ll spend less time commuting to appointments. Your therapist may also offer more flexible hours. And you may even find that it’s easier to be more forthcoming with information when not in the same room as your therapist.
Body Language
Another factor to consider if you’re going to meet online is your body language. During face-to-face treatment, you and your therapist can read one another’s body language.
This is much tougher to do during video chats, and it’s impossible to do if you’re talking over the phone. You might find it’s difficult to know how your therapist is responding if you can’t see their body language or facial gestures.
On the flipside, your therapist won’t be able to read your body language either. When you say that you’re doing “fine,” do you really mean fine? Perhaps your body language says something different. Without being in the same room, your therapist may be more likely to miss vital visual clues about your emotional state.
Not all Types of Therapy Work Well Online
Many forms of talk therapy can work over the phone, via email, or video chat. But some types of treatment just aren’t made for virtual sessions.
Sand tray therapy and EMDR, for example, may be challenging to do virtually. So you’ll want to talk to your therapist about the type of treatment you’re receiving and whether it will still work online or over the phone.
Getting a New Therapist
Not all therapists are equipped to offer virtual appointments. Some of them may be uncomfortable conducting phone therapy. Others may not have the means to provide secure, confidential email or video chat services.
If your therapist isn’t able to provide virtual treatment, you might decide to seek treatment with a new therapist. It can be helpful to talk to your in-person therapist about this.
Ask your therapist if they think you’re a good candidate for online therapy. Individuals with serious mental illnesses or people with suicidal ideation, for example, are typically not good candidates for online therapy.
Your therapist can help you decide if virtual treatment is right for you. Discuss any mental health diagnoses or pertinent information that you’d want to share in online therapy. And review how you can continue to make progress with a new therapist while using a new form of treatment.
Do a little research to learn about the different online therapy options. Consider what type of communication you might want to use—video chats, text messaging, or phone calls. Explore prices and various online options so you can make an informed decision about which online service you think will best meet your needs.
Questions to Ask Your Therapist Before Beginning Treatment
Before you transition to online therapy, it’s important to ask questions about your treatment. Here are some things you may want to address:
Coronavirus Related Issues You May Want to Address
If you’re meeting with a therapist online because you’re social distancing, you may have coronavirus-related issues to address.
Here are some examples:
A couple of years ago — long before COVID-19 was an unfortunate glimmer in the CDC’s eye — I made the decision to switch from in-person therapy to telemedicine.
As someone who has historically struggled with opening up to therapists, my hope was that I would find it easier to be vulnerable if I could hide behind a screen. What I found was that I was able to disclose more, and as a result, it deepened the therapeutic relationship.
Not only did this transform my therapy experience — it also unwittingly prepared me for the huge shift to telehealth that’s now happening in light of the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
If you’re looking to start online therapy, or if your therapist has moved their practice to digital for the unforeseeable future, it can be a jarring transition.
While it can be a big adjustment, online therapy can be an amazing and worthwhile support system — particularly in a time of crisis.
So how do you make the most of it? Consider these 7 tips as you make your transition to teletherapy.
1. Carve out a safe space and intentional time for therapy
One of the most touted benefits of online therapy is the fact that you can do it any time, anywhere. That said, I don’t necessarily recommend that approach if you can avoid it.
For one, distractions are never ideal when you’re trying to work — and therapy is rigorous, difficult work sometimes!
The emotional nature of therapy makes it even more important to have some space and time set aside to engage with this process fully.
If you’re self-isolating with another person, you could also ask them to wear headphones or take a walk outside while you do therapy. You might also get creative and create a blanket fort with string lights for a more soothing, contained environment.
No matter what you decide, make sure you’re prioritizing therapy and doing it in an environment that feels safest for you.
2. Expect some awkwardness at first
No matter what platform your therapist is using and how tech-savvy they are, it’s still going to be a different experience from in-person — so don’t be alarmed if it doesn’t feel like you and your therapist are “in-sync” right away.
For example, when my therapist and I used messaging as our primary mode of communication, it took some time for me to get used to not being replied to right away.
It can be tempting to think that some discomfort or awkwardness is a sign that online therapy isn’t working for you, but if you can keep an open line of communication with your therapist, you might be surprised by your ability to adapt!
It’s also normal to “grieve” the loss of in-person support, especially if you and your therapist have worked together offline before.
It’s understandable that there could be frustration, fear, and sadness from the loss of this type of connection. These are all things that you can mention to your therapist as well.
3. Be flexible with the format of your therapy
Some therapy platforms use a combination of messaging, audio, and video, while others are a typical session over webcam. If you have options, it’s worth exploring what combination of text, audio, and video works best for you.
For example, if you’re self-isolated with your family, you may rely on messaging more frequently as not to be overheard by someone and have as much time as you need to write it. Or if you’re burnt out from working remotely and staring at a screen, recording an audio message may feel better for you.
One of the benefits of teletherapy is that you have a lot of different tools at your disposal. Be open to experimenting!
4. Lean into the unique parts of telemedicine
There are some things you can do with online therapy that you can’t necessarily do in-person.
For example, I can’t bring my cats to an in-person therapy session — but it’s been special to introduce my therapist to my furry companions over webcam.
Because online therapy is accessible in a different way, there are unique things you can do to integrate it into your daily life.
I like to send my therapist articles that have resonated with me for us to talk about later, set up small daily check-ins instead of just once weekly, and I’ve shared written gratitude lists over text during especially stressful times.
Getting creative with how you use the tools available to you can make online therapy feel a lot more engaging.
5. In the absence of bodily cues, practice naming your emotions more explicitly
If you’ve been in in-person therapy for a while, you may be used to your therapist observing your bodily cues and facial expressions, and sort of “intuiting” your emotional state.
Our therapists’ ability to read us is something we might take for granted as we pivot to telemedicine.
This is why it can be really beneficial to practice naming our emotions and reactions more explicitly.
For instance, if your therapist says something that strikes a nerve, it can be powerful to pause and say, “When you shared that with me, I found myself feeling frustrated.”
Similarly, learning to be more descriptive around our emotions can give our therapists useful information in the work that we do.
Rather than saying “I’m tired,” we might say “I’m drained/burnt out.” Instead of saying “I’m feeling down,” we might say, “I’m feeling a mix of anxiety and helplessness.”
These are useful skills in self-awareness regardless, but online therapy is a great excuse to start flexing those muscles in a safe environment.
6. Be willing to name what you need — even if it seems ‘silly’
With COVID-19 in particular, an active pandemic means that many of us — if not all — are struggling with getting some of our most fundamental human needs met.
Whether that’s remembering to eat and drink water consistently, grappling with loneliness, or being fearful for yourself or loved ones, this is a difficult time to be a “grownup.”
Taking care of ourselves is going to be a challenge at times.
It can be tempting to invalidate our responses to COVID-19 as being an “overreaction,” which can make us reluctant to disclose or ask for help.
However, your therapist is working with clients every day who undoubtedly share your feelings and struggles. You aren’t alone.
What should I say?
Some things that might be helpful to bring to your therapist during this time:
Remember that there’s no issue too big or too small to bring to your therapist. Anything that’s impacting you is worth talking about, even if it might seem trivial to someone else.
7. Don’t be afraid to give your therapist feedback
A lot of therapists who are making the shift to telemedicine are relatively new to it, which means there will almost certainly be hiccups along the way.
Online therapy itself is a more recent development in the field, and not all clinicians have proper training on how to translate their in-person work to a digital platform.
I don’t say this to undermine your faith in them — but rather, to remind and encourage you to be your own best advocate in this process.
So if a platform is cumbersome to use? Let them know! If you’re finding that their written messages aren’t helpful or that they feel too generic? Tell them that, too.
As you both experiment with online therapy, feedback is essential to figuring out what does and doesn’t work for you.
So if you can, keep communication open and transparent. You might even set aside dedicated time each session to discuss the transition, and what has and hasn’t felt supportive for you.
Online therapy can be a powerful tool for your mental health, especially during such an isolating, stressful time.
Don’t be afraid to try something different, vocalize what you need and expect, and be willing to meet your therapist halfway as you do this work together.
Now more than ever, we need to protect our mental health. And for me? I’ve found no greater ally in that work than my online therapist.
Kid strategy of the week:
Couples strategy of the week:
Adult strategy of the week:
Five Secrets to Calming Yourself
Mindfulness/Meditation of the week:
● Loving Kindness Meditation
This loving kindness practice involves silently repeating phrases that offer good qualities to oneself and to others.
Let’s begin by settling into a comfortable position, whatever feels right for your body. Bring attention to your breath. Notice the still points between your breaths. Breathe in through the nose to the count of 4 and out to the count of 6. Focusing on the still place between breaths.
(few breaths) Slowly transitioning out of the visualization, and simply keep repeating the phrases for a few more breaths. Each time you do so, you are transforming your old relationship to yourself, and are moving forward, sustained by the force of kindness and compassion inward.
As a therapist, people tend to look to me for answers. We ask the questions to gain understanding and help guide and walk with people on their journeys. In the midst of a pandemic, how does that work though?
Feelings of increased stress, anxiety, and depression are now a new “normal baseline” for a population finding themselves faced with fear and uncertainty.
Everyone has been talking about the Coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19. It’s all over the news, it’s pervading daily conversation, and it’s supposedly pretty scary for our older population, particularly those with underlying severe, chronic health conditions. This global epidemic (and some may call it a full-fledged pandemic) is impacting our global health, economy and way of life as we know it.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.”
Common signs mimic a common cold or flu, with respiratory symptoms such as a cough, fever, shortness of breath or trouble breathing.
As more and more confirmed cases start popping up all around us, anxiety naturally increases.
WHAT IS ANXIETY?
Anxiety is like worry on caffeine. Anxiety is our brain’s way of letting us know that something is unsafe, dangerous or potentially harmful/deadly. We are survival creatures and we don’t like things to disrupt our safe, consistent routine. COVID-19 has begun to do just that.
Anxiety is adaptive. If we sense danger (even perceived danger), our brain perks up and gets our body ready for action to fight, run or freeze. This is how we protect ourselves and those we love.
Anxiety is only good until a certain level. Because anxiety motivates us and keeps us safe, it works great for short bursts and for specific situations. What happens when we are overly anxious for too long of a time? It’s different for everyone, but if we are too anxious, it no longer helps us, and it can begin to interfere with our daily life. We may be recluse, avoid, become depressed or even develop panic attacks.
When we enter an unknown situation like a global viral epidemic, fears run wild. We have little past experience on what to expect, how things may change (humans hate change!) and future impact on our health – physically, emotionally, financially and economically.
We must have anxiety during this time, as it helps us become prepared to take on a threat to our existence. Yet, we still don’t know what will become in our country or in our state. For our own mental health and the mental health of our children watching how we react and respond…we must find ways to use both our emotion mind and our logic mind to stay in the WISE mind (to learn more about “wise mind”, look up Dialectical Behavior Therapy- DBT).
6 WAYS TO MANAGE ANXIETY DURING THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) OUTBREAK
REDUCE YOUR PREOCCUPATION WITH CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Coronavirus is undeniably a major topic of discussion in the news, but constantly listening to updates and reading stories may lead to increased anxiety. It’s also important to know which news sources are providing accurate information so you’re not distressed over news that isn’t even factual. Limit your news consumption so you can stay informed without becoming preoccupied. The WHO is a great resources as is the CDC.
Turn off the t.v. when enjoying a family meal. Turn off alerts from news outlets on your phone. Set aside one or two times a day (if needed) to look at credible news sources so that you can function throughout the rest of your day at school, work or at home.
KNOW YOUR OWN RISK OF CATCHING CORONAVIRUS
According to the CDC, the immediate risk of exposure to the Coronavirus is low for most people. Additionally, it has been reported that most cases are mild. Those who are at a greater risk for experiencing a severe Coronavirus illness are older people and those with preexisting health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes. If you fall into one or more of those categories, take extra precaution in your Coronavirus prevention.
Remember, just because you may fall into the high-risk category does NOT mean you will catch it. And if you do, it does NOT mean that you will die. It’s important to keep a rational mind about the statistics.
USE CORRECT PREVENTATIVE METHODS
While you can’t control the spread of Coronavirus, you can control how you respond to this situation. The CDC recommends these everyday actions to prevent the spread of illness:
This is a big life lesson of learn to control what we can, and accept what we cannot. Germs spread. It’s actually incredible if you think about it, how much our bodies can take on a daily basis with the germs we come into contact with every day. Our bodies are resilient and self-repair constantly. We know what we need to do to do our best in controlling the spread of all germs.
CREATE A PLAN OF ACTION
Talk with those in your household about what to do if Coronavirus spreads to your community. Assess the needs of each person, especially those who are at an increased risk of developing severe complications. Learn about the resources that are available to you in case you need health care services, information, or any additional support. Stay in contact with your work, your child’s school, and local agencies about any upcoming closings or modifications in gatherings.
If it helps, stock up on some necessary supplies like toilet paper, medications, canned and boxed foods, frozen foods, and other supplies that you may need if in your home for 2-4 weeks. Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. This is true in times of uncertainty and can really slow the rise of anxiety.
RECOGNIZE THAT IT’S NORMAL TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS
Since we do not yet know everything about the Coronavirus, it’s definitely ok to be worried. Having some anxiety might even encourage you to take preventative measures (like washing your hands more than usual) which, in turn, will reduce your risk of getting sick. However, stressing over the fact that you’re anxious about the Coronavirus will only make the cycle worse.
Stress increases cortisol and other hormones that make us eat worse and sleep less. This can lead to being physically and emotionally run down, with or without the Cornoavirus.
These are always good tips in times of stress:
TALK TO A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER…VIRTUALLY!
If your anxiety about Coronavirus is surpassing what you can handle, a little therapy won’t hurt. Anxiety often arises during times of uncertainty, but that’s when it’s most important to keep mentally healthy. Therapy can help you manage anxiety about many different things.
In today’s world, tele-mental health (otherwise known as online therapy or eTherapy) allows people to access mental health therapy from the germ-free comfort of their own home or surroundings!
Having excessive anxiety about the Coronavirus will lead to more harm than good. Use preventative methods, make a plan, and know that you’re going to be okay. Always remember that help is available if you need it, for both your physical and mental needs.
On Friday afternoon, Governor Walz signed executive orders 20-10, 20-11, and 20-12. These executive actions were absolutely necessary to ensure that mental health programs have the flexibility needed to continue providing services but in alternative ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent article in the Star Tribune, as well as an opinion piece make the need for this action clear.
The most important executive order for the mental health community is EO 20-12. This executive order reflects SF 4200, which is bipartisan legislation that would easily pass on a floor vote if the legislature were able to convene. However, given the uncertainty in the legislature – including a staff peron being diagnosed with COVID-19 in the House – Governor Walz correctly recognized the urgency of the situation and took executive action.
EP 20-12 provides the Department of Human Services with short-term flexibility to alter background study requirements, licensing and certification standards, requirements for in-person assessments, eligibility renewal standards for public programs, work or community engagement requirements, service delivery standards including treatment setting and staffing ratios, payment procedures, and more. The most important change for the mental health community relates to telehealth, where the executive order allows for flexibility regarding telehealth and other electronic strategies for communicating with providers or patients. Private plans in Minnesota have already agreed to reimburse telehealth from a person’s home and by phone.
This means that a community-based mental health provider will be able to bill for services provided via telehealth, even if this is a phone call and not the more intensive telehealth systems that would usually have to be used. This will increase much needed mental health access, while ensuring that health care providers and people with mental illnesses can follow best-practices to avoid contracting COVID-19. Many people with mental illnesses don’t have computers or smart phones and people in rural Minnesota don’t have Internet. This step, allowing services by phone, was a top priority for NAMI Minnesota.
More detailed information on how DHS will be implementing the orders will be placed on the DHS website in the coming days.
EO 20-11 was also issued on Friday and allows the Department of Human Services to seek federal authority to waive or change federal requirements for all programs and services, including the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, and other programs to maximize federal funding, maintain enrollee coverage and provider participation, and to ensure public health and safety.
The other order issued on Friday was EO 20-10, which prohibits price gouging for essential goods and services including food, gasoline, medical supplies, health care goods like hand sanitizer, and other essentials.
It’s important to know that your emails made a difference! Special thanks to senate leaders – Abeler, Hayden, Marty and house leaders – Schultz, Liebling, Kiel, Albright and Schomacker. We now have bipartisan support for this action in both the House and Senate.
More needs to be Done at Federal Level on COVID-19 Response
As the Senate prepares the third in a series of COVID-19-related relief bills, please urge Senator Klobuchar and Senator Smith to ensure people affected by mental illness can maintain their treatment, get health and mental health coverage, access needed supports, and lift up the nonprofits they depend on, like NAMI.
We need you to ask your U.S. Senators to do 4 things:
1. Remove barriers to mental health treatment. People need ways to manage existing mental health conditions and maintain mental wellness while reducing their exposure to the coronavirus. To do this, Congress should:
2. Promote coverage for health and mental health care. People with mental health conditions are often uninsured or face barriers to getting needed treatment and supports. These challenges are even greater during a crisis. To address this, Congress should:
3. Ensure safe housing for people with severe mental illness. Many people with severe mental illness experience homelessness or housing insecurity and are uniquely vulnerable to being exposed to the virus and outbreaks in shelters or encampments. With the loss of steady income, many more individuals are also at risk of losing housing. Congress must act by:
4. Support nonprofits’ capacity to serve. The economic impact of this crisis will also touch charitable organizations like NAMI organizations and our partners. Nonprofits need support to meet greater demand and fill important gaps during this time. To assist, Congress should:
Senator Klobuchar and Senator Smith need to hear from you TODAY. Please contact them now to ensure people with mental illness are helped in their response to COVID-19.
News from the State Level
COVID-19 Update
NAMI Minnesota is working very hard to ensure that our members and supporters have access to the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and the resources that are available. All this information is available at NAMI Minnesota’s website. Please also note that our support groups have been moved online and many classes are being scheduled online as well.
Special Open Enrollment Period for MNsure
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MNsure has opened a special enrollment period to obtain health insurance on the private marketplace. Starting on March 23rd, any Minnesotan can apply for health insurance on MNsure for coverage starting on April 1, with a deadline of April 21st to get coverage under this special enrollment period. Here is the broad eligibility criteria:
To learn more about this opportunity, all you have to do is go to MNsure’s website.
Governor Walz Signs Executive Order on Elective Surgeries
Governor Walz signed another executive order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring health-care providers to postpone elective surgeries, including elective dental procedures. This will reduce the strain on Minnesota’s health care system will experience and is in alignment with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The executive order defines a non-essential or elective surgery as a procedure that can be delayed without undue risk of the current or future health of the patient. Potential criteria to consider when determining if a procedure is elective can include:
You can read the full executive order here.
News from Federal Level
Federal Action on COVID-19 Outbreak
This week, Congress and President Trump were able to reach a compromise and pass H.R. 6201. While we can expect the passage of additional legislation in the near-term, this marks the first spending bill made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation includes a number of funding increases and short-term policy waivers that will help people access the supports they need during the pandemic. Here are the key changes that NAMI members should be aware of:
Food and Nutrition:
Emergency Paid leave
Unemployment Benefits
Paid Sick Leave
Health Insurance
National Council Breakdown of CMS Actions on COVID-19
CONDUCTING TELEMEDICINE VISITS
CMS has clarified and provided more flexibility for states to respond to the coronavirus. The allowances outlined below will remain effective for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Medicaid Telehealth
Telehealth and Prescriptions of Controlled Substances: The DEA has announced that for the duration of the public health emergency, registered practitioners may issue prescriptions for controlled substances to patients for whom they have not conducted an in-person medical evaluation, providing the following conditions are met:
This temporary relief of the Ryan Haight Act has been a long-term advocacy goal of the National Council and its members. We thank all members who worked to build this case with DEA over the years to make this emergency declaration possible.
Medicare Telehealth
Telehealth Best Practices
The National Council has compiled a reference document that includes details on these changes and more, titled “Best Practices for Telehealth During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.” This document is intended to provide mental health and substance use treatment providers with the background and resources necessary to help begin or expand the use of telehealth.
TELEHEALTH AND PRIVACY: HIPAA & 42 CFR PART 2
HIPAA: The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it will exercise its enforcement discretion and will waive potential penalties for HIPAA violations against health care providers that serve patients through everyday communications technologies during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This applies to widely available communication apps such as FaceTime or Skype when used in good faith for any telehealth treatment or diagnostic purpose, regardless of whether the telehealth service is directly related to COVID-19.
42 CFR Part 2: SAMHSA issued guidance related to the sharing of substance use disorder health records throughout the public health emergency. SAMHSA makes clear in the guidance, information disclosed to the medical personnel who are treating such a medical emergency may be re-disclosed by such personnel for treatment purposes as needed. SAMHSA notes that Part 2 requires programs to document certain information in their records after a disclosure is made pursuant to the medical emergency exception. SAMHSA emphasizes that, under the medical emergency exception, providers make their own determinations whether a bona fide medical emergency exists for purposes of providing needed treatment to patients.
INCREASED HEALTH FUNDING
It’s no surprise that people are feeling anxious right now.
Workers are worrying about how they’ll pay the rent as hours are cut back. Young parents are trying to do their jobs remotely while watching their children who are home from school. Older people are weighing the health risks of making a quick run to the grocery store.
Most people’s lives have been turned upside down by the coronavirus.
As Congress takes action to keep our economy strong and our people healthy, we can’t forget those who far too often have been left behind – people who are living with mental illness and those struggling with addiction.
It’s estimated that 1 in 5 people in our country are living with mental illness or substance use disorders. Sadly, people with mental illness and people with substance use disorders may fail to get the treatment they need in a typical year. And as we know, this year is anything but typical.
We know that people who misuse opioids are at high risk for coronavirus. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse and other health experts, opioids impact the respiratory and pulmonary health of users and make them more susceptible to respiratory infections, including coronavirus.
People who are living with a mental illness or addiction often have other health conditions that make them more likely to suffer severe complications from the coronavirus.
Responding to the coronavirus pandemic requires a comprehensive health care strategy, including increasing access to community mental health and addiction treatment services. And the best way we can do that is to include the expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in the next emergency package passed by Congress.
Six years ago, we worked together to pass our Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act. It created quality standards of care and funding to open community clinics that are transforming mental health and addiction treatment.
After only two years of operations, communities that have CCBHCs are providing life-saving services. They work closely with law enforcement and our schools and coordinate with hospitals to dramatically reduce emergency room visits.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, they’ve led to a 60% decrease in time spent in jails, a 41% decrease in homelessness and a 63% decrease in emergency department visits for behavioral health. That’s a big deal when every hospital bed matters right now.
CCBHCs also are well-positioned to support those struggling to cope with the stress of coronavirus, whether it’s anxiety, depression, loneliness brought on by social isolation or even trauma faced by front-line health care workers. And many CCBHCs provide telemedicine services, allowing people to access help without increasing their potential exposure to the virus.
As our nation confronts COVID-19, we must not leave those with mental illness and addiction disorders behind. And the good news is, by working together, we can make sure that doesn’t happen.
