- April 25, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Area children and adolescents can now receive mental health treatment and information simply by getting on their computer, phone or tablet. The telehealth and telecounseling services are already being used by some Port Orange families.
The online service was formed by the Children’s Home Society of Florida in partnership with the University of Florida Health. Through the online system, youth between the ages of five and 18 can access a video link, which allows them to speak directly with therapists and psychiatrists without ever leaving their home.
CHS counselors work with licensed psychiatrists to provide care to clients, many of whom can't always make in-office appointments.
Christine Certain, director of Program Development for CHS, said, including patients from Port Orange, they have had more than 150 people use the telehealth service since the first appointment on Nov. 2, 2016. She said they realized within six to eight weeks the need was substantially higher and than what they had originally intended it to be, which led them to double the number of hours that were provided weekly in the Volusia County area.
"There are some really exciting things we've been able to do for the Port Orange and Volusia County community," Certain said. "We want to be able to give children an opportunity to have an appointment in about a week where traditionally the waitlist is several months long to see a board certified licensed psychiatrist."
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about one in five children currently has, or at one point had, a seriously debilitating mental disorder.
CHS Executive Director Kymberly Cook said she has seen a greater needs for mental health services due to a rising substance abuse problem, specifically in relation to Opioids. She noted more children having been in need of care due to this Opioid crisis. She has also witnessed additional needs rising from bullying and violence in homes.
Certain has been keeping track of needs within Volusia County since 2013 and said she has seen a substantial need for psychiatric services for children, adolescents and families. Certain and Cook have both witnessed a shortage of board certified providers able to meet the needs of all those individuals in the region.
"We want to be able to give children an opportunity to have an appointment in about a week where traditionally the waitlist is several months long to see a board certified licensed psychiatrist." Christine Certain, director of Program Development for CHS.
Certain said if a person is covered under Medicaid it can sometimes take weeks or months before they are able to see a licensed psychiatrist. Or, families may not be able to reach a psychiatrist due scheduling conflicts. This is where Certain and Cook hope the telehealth service can start helping residents.
"Some kids can't wait, so if we have a child or family that's waiting on Medicaid or they're waiting on paperwork from their doctor we can expedite that," Cook said. "We have a shortage of child psychiatrists that accept Medicaid and that's usually everywhere."
According to Certain, CHS has routinely been filling all of the appointment spots that have been open. She said it was only recently that they expanded out from just doing psychiatric telehealth work to being able to offer telehealth counseling services as well. Certain said this helps eliminate concerns about a child visiting an office or driving further for an appointment—anything that might create a barrier to receiving treatment.
"I think it's going to help us positively impact how our kids are getting through these situations," Cook said. "It's going to give access to people who otherwise wouldn't be able to get that access and it's going to really help us have healthier communities, healthier citizens and provide children and families with the care that they have been asking for for so long."
