Getting the mental health care you need
More people in the U.S. today are seeking care for their mental health, but finding help isn’t always easy, including here on Cape Cod.
The percentage of adults receiving mental health treatment increased from 19.2% in 2019 to 21.6% in 2021, according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Health Interview Survey. Nearly half of the 60 million adults and children living with mental health conditions in the United States go without any treatment, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
People in need of psychiatric help in Massachusetts and across the nation are too often met with unreturned voice messages, phone tag, and wait lists too difficult to overcome, according to Peter “Clay” Hansinger, Clinical Services Manager at Cape Cod Human Services of Cape Cod Healthcare.
Hansinger moved to Cape Cod from Florida four years ago and began working for Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Cape Cod as a medical social worker visiting patients in their homes.
“When I visited patients in their homes, I saw that getting the help they needed wasn’t always as easy for them,” Hansinger remarked. “Access to medical and mental help has been extremely difficult especially during the pandemic, due to the lack of clinical staffing, telehealth options, transportation and family supports” he said.
However, when he began working as a therapist at Cape Cod Human Services for Cape Cod Healthcare, he started to see the benefits of providing in-person therapy and remote telehealth sessions to individuals all around Cape Cod. As the new clinical services manager at Cape Cod Human Services for Cape Cod Healthcare, Hansinger’s vision is to build a more sustainable and accessible mental health clinical team to fulfill the long-term psychiatric needs of the entire region. He said he has a solution to the challenge of finding and keeping talented professionals on the Cape – recruiting and mentoring master’s level clinicians pursuing degrees in social work and mental health counseling.
“My main goal is to recruit licensed therapists and master’s level graduates from colleges throughout Massachusetts providing mentorship and supervision to achieve their licensure goals,” he said. These professionals will be able to provide patients with consistent and supportive therapy to achieve the best clinical outcomes, while improving access and needs of the community.
Offering candidates an excellent working climate, the resources to provide consistent patient care, and the opportunity to become part of a Cape Cod Healthcare team where growth is possible will attract talented professionals, Hansinger explained.
Help in the Community
Many individuals on Cape Cod have a hard time accessing telehealth, he said. Many in the older population who do not have access to internet service, or family supports feel alone and isolated, which can lead to depression, anxiety and other emotional problems. “So, our job is to work with community supports and do everything we can to help individuals connect. Often that involves building telehealth capabilities,” he said. “It takes a village and we’re working to close the loop.”
Support groups exist, but key needs are often unmet, Hansinger acknowledged. Groups focused on grief support and substance abuse are very important on Cape Cod, and a number of them are functioning well, especially through senior centers, he said.
“Cape Cod Human Services for Cape Cod Healthcare has a very successful social anxiety support group,” he said. It has led to great benefits for people who struggle with social anxiety.
Hansinger said he would like to see more specialized groups. He has a vision of more access to groups that address the needs of Cape Cod’s dynamic population such as caregiver support, anxiety related to aging, and difficulties with sleeping to name a few.
Ask Your PCP
Cape Cod Healthcare is committed to making sure no one on Cape Cod goes without appropriate mental healthcare, he said. Mental health utilization increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and asking for help is as easy as talking with your primary care physician or visiting www.psychologytoday.com to find a mental health clinician in your area. Your doctor is accustomed to making referrals to caring, helpful therapists.
Your local senior center or community center is also a good place to ask for a mental health referral and get connected to a therapist or support group, according to Hansinger.
“If you struggle with stress, anxiety, depression, or other emotional concerns on Cape Cod, help is available close to home” he said.
