Tele-mental health services available for Lehigh Valley residents
Written by Victoria Scialfa on May 25, 2020
Tele-mental health services available for Lehigh Valley residents
By Brittany Sweeney
May 25, 2020
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s an effort to fight the stigma surrounding mental illness and substance abuse disorders, so people know that they are not alone, WLVR’s Brittany Sweeney reports.
During this pandemic some people may be unsure about how to get the mental health care they need.
Dr. Mia McNeil of Easton is the Clinical Director For Nurse Practitioners Services at Innovatel, and works in tele-psychiatry. She says she’s seen a surge in the use of tele-health.
She’s not only a provider, but a patient as her husband passed away suddenly last year, leaving McNeil and her four daughters needing therapy as well.
“In this era of pandemic my children have been able to access care via tele-psychiatry… understand that this modality lends to not just eye catching evaluations but individual and group therapy in a variety of settings so our family has been able to access those types of services as well,” said McNeil.
McNeil says using virtual services guarantees there’s no lapse in coverage.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is now offering a statewide support and referral helpline. The line is staffed by skilled caseworkers around the clock.
The number for the Pennsylvania support and referral helpline is 855-284-2494.
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