Source: Central Jersey.com
For people living with mental health disorders, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique set of challenges. Not only has the pandemic exacerbated feelings of fear and anxiety, but it also has disrupted how individuals connect with each other, including with their therapist.
Maintaining a human connection, however, is critical to maintaining your mental health and key to treating disorders such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. At Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health, the transition to telehealth during the pandemic has enabled patients to connect virtually, ensuring they continue to have access to the programs, care, and human interaction they need.
If you’re concerned about your mental health, talk to your doctor or consult a mental health professional. Once diagnosed, many mental health disorders can often be effectively treated with therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
Most insurances, including Medicaid, cover telehealth services.
It is also important to note that individuals without a mental health diagnosis can benefit from therapy and counseling too. Therapy can support personal growth and can help with a range of issues such as communicating effectively, managing expectations at work and school, even public speaking.
Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health offers inpatient and intensive outpatient treatment programs that are customized to meet the needs of children, adolescents, and adults, with specialized programs for men and women. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Princeton House has been providing intensive outpatient treatment programs via telehealth.
Through the use of a secure video conferencing platform, patients are able to participate in individual and group therapy sessions from the comfort and safety of their home. In addition, through telehealth, patients have virtual access to medication check-ins with psychiatrists, family meetings, and yoga, music, and art therapies.
Telehealth utilizes video conferencing, which provides the ability to see body language and expressions. This helps patients and therapists maintain human connection while social distancing. The use of telehealth has also expanded the availability of mental health services for patients who have trouble accessing in-person care because of issues such as distance or transportation. Early research among adult Princeton House patients shows that there is no difference in treatment outcome between in-person therapy and teletherapy.
Throughout the pandemic, telehealth has helped patients with mental health disorders feel less isolated and has provided a connection with others through these challenging times. Even when the pandemic subsides, it is expected that telehealth will be here to stay.
For more information about Princeton House Behavioral Health telehealth services, call 888-437-1610 or visit www.princetonhouse.org.