As facilities and state governors press forward to resume normal operations, is there likely to be an increased need for behavioral health services due to the COVID-19 disease? 

<p>
  As facilities and state governors press forward to continue normal operations
  during this Delta surge, is there likely to be an increased need for
  behavioral health services due to the COVID-19 disease? What strategies can
  health leaders and psychiatry providers implement to bolster mental health
  support in the continued challenge?
</p>

<h2>Behavioral Health Support Needs Due to COVID-19</h2>

<p>
  Only time will tell whether there will be an increased need for mental health
  services as a result of COVID-19. To explore whether the effects of past
  crises could help, Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD, and Mark Olfson, MD, MPH, from
  Columbia University compared psychological effects of the coronavirus pandemic
  on society with impacts of outbreaks of Spanish Flu, polio, HIV, Ebola, SARS,
  MERSA, and Swine Flu, as well as with events like Hurricane Katrina and 9/11,
  and ultimately, with the Great Depression. Not surprisingly, natural and
  human-made disasters have resulted in increased rates of suicide, anxiety,
  substance abuse, PTSD, and depression. (<a
    href="https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/coronavirus/meeting-mental-health-challenge-covid-19-pandemic"
    >Lieberman and Olfson</a
  >).
</p>

<h2>Populations at Increased Risk of Stress from COVID-19</h2>

<p>
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (<a
    href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html#risk"
    >CDC</a
  >) and the World Health Organization (<a
    href="https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331490/WHO-2019-nCoV-MentalHealth-2020.1-eng.pdf"
    >WHO</a
  >) as well as Lieberman and Olfson, certain people may be at higher risk of
  stress due to COVID-19. Therefore, it is critical that behavioral health
  providers and facilities become attuned to the needs of those who:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    Are healthcare workers, especially those on the frontlines of COVID-19
  </li>
  <li>Have underlying health conditions</li>
  <li>Have disabilities</li>
  <li>Are older adults</li>
  <li>Are children or adolescents</li>
  <li>Have pre-existing mental health disorders</li>
  <li>Live in lower-income households</li>
  <li>Have language barriers</li>
  <li>Are sick with or have had COVID-19</li>
  <li>Live with someone affected by COVID-19</li>
  <li>Have a family member or close friend who has died of COVID-19</li>
  <li>Reside in high COVID-19 prevalence areas</li>
  <li>Are socially isolated</li>
  <li>Lack access to emotional support</li>
  <li>
    Experience stigma due to age, race, ethnicity, disability, or perceived
    likelihood of spreading COVID-19
  </li>
</ul>

<h2>
  Strategies for Behavioral Health Professionals and Facility Administrators
</h2>

<p>
  Mental health providers and leaders can approach COVID-19 recovery tactfully.
  These tips, compiled from the American Psychiatric Association (<a
    href="https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/covid-19-coronavirus/practice-guidance-for-covid-19"
    >APA</a
  >), American Psychological Association (<a
    href="https://www.apaservices.org/practice/news/anxiety-depression-covid-19?_ga=2.71707987.1544800473.1588866078-1660268292.1588866078"
    >APA</a
  >), American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (<a
    href="https://www.aacap.org/virtual_forum"
    >AACAP</a
  >), and
  <a
    href="https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/covid-19-updates-and-information-columbia-psychiatry"
    >Columbia University</a
  >
  may help as behavioral health professionals customize strategic recovery plans
  for their own practices:
</p>

<ol>
  <li>
    Note patients who are at high-risk and be prepared to adjust treatment plans
    and increase frequency of visits accordingly.
  </li>
  <li>
    Determine whether patients&rsquo; stress is due to COVID-19 and conduct
    evaluations using the APA&rsquo;s
    <a
      href="https://www.apaservices.org/practice/news/anxiety-depression-covid-19?_ga=2.71707987.1544800473.1588866078-1660268292.1588866078"
      >specialized guide</a
    >.
  </li>
  <li>
    Recognize that healthcare workers affected by COVID-19 may be dealing with
    dilemmas around vulnerability to the disease and their call to duty as
    healers.
  </li>
  <li>
    Strengthen the lines of communication between primary care and specialty
    mental health services to help address emerging mental health needs.
  </li>
  <li>
    Establish support groups, implement crisis helplines, expand services, and
    use telemedicine to increase access to care.
  </li>
  <li>
    Consider training medical nurses and social workers in brief evidence-based
    psychotherapy techniques that can help patients manage complicated grief,
    adjustment disorders, and mild to moderate depression.
  </li>
  <li>
    Become familiar with the updated, state-by-state,
    <a
      href="https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/covid-19-coronavirus/practice-guidance-for-covid-19"
      >APA psychiatric practice guidance for COVID-19</a
    >
    which contains information on financial assistance for practices,
    telepsychiatry guidelines, licensure flexibility to help alleviate staffing
    shortages, and more.
  </li>
  <li>
    Staff strategically. Consider the nature of your unit and the people you
    have working there. Balance the need for supervision and care with
    preventing staff from becoming physically and emotionally burned out.
  </li>
  <li>
    Use locums support. Use locums psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and APPs
    to bolster staff. Providers may become ill with COVID-19 or may have family
    members contract the disease. Staff may become stressed and fatigued and may
    need respite. Prepare for the unexpected by partnering with a trusted locum
    tenens company.
  </li>
</ol>

<h2>We&rsquo;re Here to Help</h2>

<p>
  With forethought and strategic planning for your behavioral healthcare
  organization, you’ll be well on your way to assisting patients through this
  time – and that’s a reason for you, your stakeholders, your providers, and
  your patients to celebrate.
</p>

<p>
  Stay safe and well.
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/contact-us">Contact us</a>.
  We&rsquo;re here to help.
</p>


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