Mental health providers brace for forecasted spike in demand
The Daily HeraldJul 05, 2020
This phase, termed "disillusionment" by researchers, will likely usher a sense of hopelessness that's expected to come with a surge in substance use, aggression and illegal activity, experts say.
The pandemic has already heightened stress and anxiety for many people in
The wave of mental health issues is predicted to peak sometime in the fall, leading to more suicides and spurring problematic coping strategies, such as drug and alcohol use. Depression symptoms will become common, as will anxiety and acute stress, according to an analysis published by the department in June.
The gloomy outlook raises questions about whether the county's behavioral health providers — now cash-strapped and understaffed because of the coronavirus crisis — will be ready for an influx of new patients.
"We're all trying to prepare as best we can for when we hit the peak in October (and) November," said
Providers on shaky financial ground
Across the state, COVID-19 has caused revenues to tumble for many behavioral health agencies as social distancing restrictions have limited operations.
In
About 40% of the
Community mental health organizations, particularly those that serve the poor, already operate on shoestring budgets, said Roszak, who's also the CEO of
"Behavioral health has always been operated on extremely slim margins," he said. "We worry that our already under-resourced and stressed behavioral health system cannot meet the forecasted expanded need due to the COVID crisis over the coming year."
The oncoming wave
The return of cold, gloomy weather could exacerbate mental health problems, experts say. So could the emotional and financial strain of the winter holidays.
The behavioral health crisis is expected to hit poor people, people of color and those with limited access to health care the hardest, according to the
The economic downturn and resulting high unemployment rate could lead to an additional 217 deaths by suicide and 280 deaths by drug overdose annually in the state, according to the analysis.
A second wave of coronavirus infections, though, would change all those predictions, health officials have said.
Demand is mounting as people who have never before sought behavioral health services are beginning to reach out to clinics and providers for help. Front-line crisis workers, social workers and even staff at mental health clinics are grappling with the emotional impacts of the pandemic, too, said Angelly.
"It's really starting to take a toll on everybody," he said. "We are starting to see people who have never utilized mental health services and behavioral health services … They don't know what to do. They don't know how to handle their emotions."
The company has had to lay off about 20 people, said
COVID-19's lasting effects
Even before the pandemic, a dearth of psychiatric treatment beds, the opioid epidemic and a growing population was fueling a rising need for behavioral health services, said
Now, lower staffing levels could ultimately lead to longer wait times for appointments with therapists and psychiatrists.
In the long term, providers could struggle to restore services to normal levels on the heels of the pandemic, Valentine worries.
Meanwhile, with unemployment rates soaring, more people are becoming reliant on the behavioral health organizations that serve low-income folks.
The federal government has offered some funding for behavioral health programs during the pandemic. And many local governments are using money they received from the federal CARES Act to expand access to mental health care.
"We're trying to piece together all these different pieces of funding so we can support some increased capacity based on what the need is," Valentine said. "And of course, we really don't know long term what the impact will be."
Budget cuts at the state level could also affect providers. Organizations such as
But with the state facing a
"It is a big concern as to how are we going to weather this storm that's coming," Phillips said. "This is only going to get worse with these budget cuts."
State Sen.
"We're going to have to pull back on spending," said Wagoner, who serves on the Behavioral Health Subcommittee. "I don't want to see that happen in our vulnerable populations — and that's behavioral health and people with disabilities."
Local impacts
Compass
Health, which operates more than a dozen locations in
"We care about our clients and they need services and that doesn't change with a pandemic,"
Some former Compass Health clients are now patients of Sea Mar Community Health Centers, which has several behavioral health clinics in the county, said Sea Mar Behavioral Health Program Manager
More and more people are dialing into the
On a typical day, about 250 to 300 calls come in. Now that number has risen to about 400, said
Many of those callers are new to the system, she noted. Usually June is not a busy time of the year, either.
"People who are calling are not suicidal, but are becoming a lot more irritable, intolerant," she said. "Because of how long it has drawn out, I think people are becoming weary — people who generally have really good coping skills are starting to get more panicked about all this."
She believes that may be because no one knows how this is going to turn out. For example, another big increase in cases could shut everything down again.
Money has been a common worry as well. Workers have lost their jobs but at the same time haven't yet received any unemployment benefits. While
"There is a clear realization that whenever the eviction moratorium is lifted, landlords will be able to ask for rent in arrears," Morris said. "These individuals will not be able to pay their monthly expenses."
Callers are also people who have never needed help from social services before and don't know how to navigate the different systems to find assistance. At the same time, there's a certain level of embarrassment and disappointment because they can't pay the bills, Morris said.
Getting help
Those who need help can call the crisis line 24 hours a day at 800-584-3578 or visit imhurting.org for counseling options. Dial 211 for information on social services, open
More people also have come into the walk-in Behavioral Health Urgent Care clinic at
While the clinic is operating normally with in-person visits, it also offers virtual sessions. For more information call 425-261-4210.
"To everyone who is struggling now, please seek help sooner, rather than later," clinic director