Over the last year, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended nearly every aspect of daily life in the United States, with major changes in most of our work, school, home, and social lives. In addition to these adjustments, many people are experiencing grief, prolonged isolation, health-related anxiety, new stress with finances and relationships, and/or chronic health problems after recovering from COVID-19.
Given all of the changes and challenges of the last year, it is not surprising that many people are grappling with mental health hardships for the first time. Even those who were previously diagnosed with mental health conditions and were successfully managing their symptoms can find themselves struggling with pandemic-related changes in their established routines and support systems.
In addition to causing an increase in mood-related symptoms like depression and anxiety, stress and isolation can easily trigger relapses for those living with eating disorders, alcohol or other substance addictions, and compulsive behaviors like hair pulling or skin picking. Medical and psychological professionals recognize that the need for comprehensive, accessible mental health services is higher than ever. The pandemic has pushed mental health professionals throughout the country to adopt new practices, such as video and phone sessions.
Despite the heightened need for support, accessing physical and mental health care during the pandemic can be more difficult due to limits on in-person visits, increased demand for services without increases in availability, the prioritizing of emergency medical services, and heightened financial stress in a time where many are scrambling to make ends meet. Fortunately, practices like Mindful Health Solutions are quickly adapting to bridge the divide between people in need and the care that those people deserve.
Mindful Health Solutions is an innovative clinical practice that provides state-of-the-art therapeutic treatments for treatment-resistant depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, pain management, and memory disorders. Its services, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and esketamine, are safe, advanced, and supported by clinical research. Its offices also employ psychiatrists in Newport Beach, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, and the broader Bay Area to provide medication management services and to refer you to any additional support you may want or need in managing your health.
In addition to ensuring that its services are covered by most major health insurance carriers as well as offering out-of-pocket payment options, Mindful Health Solutions employs a specially trained Patient Access Team that navigates insurance and financing for you as much as possible so that you can focus on your well-being.
To address the growing needs and challenges facing those who seek treatment during the pandemic, Mindful Health Solutions provide telepsychiatry services – remote video appointments with a licensed psychiatrist from the comfort of your own home or office. Telepsychiatry offers all the benefits of in-person visits with the addition of increased flexibility, accessibility, and convenience. Video visits remove potential obstacles from accessing health care such as finding transportation, accounting for commute time traveling to and from appointments, and navigating the current health risks posed by indoor public spaces. Video visits also make it easier to ensure continuity of care: You can still attend appointments if you are sick or immobile, and you can attend an appointment with your psychiatrist in Newport Beach while staying with family in northern California.
The software program that Mindful Health Solutions uses for video visits is designed to be easy to navigate while also ensuring your security and confidentiality. Because navigating new technology is often easier with guidance, Mindful Health Solutions also ensures that its staff is equipped and available to answer any questions you may have leading up to your first session.
You don’t need any special devices or equipment to access telepsychiatry services; virtually any smartphone, tablet, or laptop with a camera and internet access (the higher bandwidth the better) will do. The only other requirement for telepsychiatry is a private space where you can remain free from interruptions for the duration of your appointment: a bedroom, office, or somewhere else that is private and secure. If you share a living space with others, you can make your space more private by using headphones, posting a note on your door asking not to be disturbed during appointment windows, and even placing a white noise machine (or using an app or video that plays white noise) at your door.
If you are one of the millions of Californians currently seeking mental health support during COVID-19, Mindful Health Solutions may be a good fit for your needs. To find out more, you can schedule a consultation to explore your options and goals. You don’t have to find your way forward alone.