Need for mental health services in New Hampshire grows amid pandemic
Providers try to meet demand for services
Share
Updated: 6:41 PM EST Mar 11, 2021
Providers try to meet demand for services
Share
Updated: 6:41 PM EST Mar 11, 2021
Hide Transcript
Show Transcript
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS TRY TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND. WMUR’S KRISTEN CAROSA HAS MORE ON THEIR CONTINUED CONCERNS. >> NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH A SHORTAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. >> NOW WE ARE IN THIS PLACE WHERE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE SATURATING THE SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO, WHETHER THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM, PRIVATE PROVIDERS ARE STRUGGLING TO MEET THE NEED. >> NOT ONLY ARE THERE MORE PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP, MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED TOO. >> THE WORKFORCE BECAME EVEN MORE CHALLENGING AS PEOPLE POTENTIALLY NEEDED TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO BE HOME WITH CHILDREN. >> IT’S SOMETHING THE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IN MANCHESTER IS ALSO SEEING. >> HOW DO YOU DO WITH THE GRIEF THAT COMES OUT OF THAT? AND THEN PUT YOURSELF BACK TOGETHER TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE? >> STAFF SAY THEY ARE NOW LOOKING AHEAD AND ARE WORRIED THE NEED COULD GROW. >> JUST BECAUSE WE PUT THE LID ON COVID DOESN’T NEE WE PUT THE LID ON THE EMOTIONAL HORROR ALL OF US HAVE GONE THROUGH. >> THE PEDIATRIC CENTER HERE HAS SEEN THE NEED FIRSTHAND. >> IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE HAD A NEED FOR BUT THERE IS NOT A LOT OUT THERE. THE WAIT LISTS ARE VERY LONG. IT IMPACTS WHAT IS OUT THERE. >> RIGHT NOW, THEY SERVE KIDS TO HELP WITH SPEECH, PHYSICAL AND FEEDING THERAPIES BUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE COMING BY MAY OR JUNE. >> SINCE COVID HAS HIT OUR BUSINESS, WE HAVE OPENED NOT ONE BUT TWO LOCATIONS. IT HAS BEEN A COMPLETE RESULT,