May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and during this COVID-19 pandemic, caring for our mental and emotional health has become especially important.
At University Medical Center, taking care of our patients’ mental health has always been as important as taking care of their physical health. Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, social distancing and isolation, we have worked to increase and enhance the mental health care services we provide.
Last week, to assist those working on the front lines of COVID-19 in Tuscaloosa, we launched a program to provide mental health services, at no cost, to first responders and health-care professionals. While many of us have been told to stay home as much as possible, most first responders and health-care providers cannot.
They continue to respond to emergencies, often with the added stress of not knowing if the people they are helping have the virus. We hope to provide them with strategies to help cope with the daily stressors and additional distress they are confronting as a result of COVID-19.
The services for first responders and health-care professionals include individual and group therapy options and can be scheduled by: visiting ACRU; emailing ACRU@ua.edu; or calling (205) 348-7802.
These services are being conducted via telehealth, as are mental health services for our existing and new patients. Moving the provision of these services to telehealth allows patients to adhere to social distancing guidelines and ensures they have a place to turn for help if they are hesitant to leave home or come into a health-care facility. Our psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers have seen an increase in the levels of distress our patients are experiencing, and we want to be here for them in ways that are safe and convenient.
During the month of May, our weekly UMC Town Halls will feature UMC health experts who will discuss various topics related to mental health and COVID-19. The town halls occur every Friday at 2 pm and are accessible then and afterward via our UMC Facebook.
In addition, the UMC website continues to provide the latest resources and information about managing distress, anxiety and social isolation during this time.
Caring for the mind is as important as caring for the body. Please reach out to University Medical Center at (205) 348-1770 if we can help.
The College of Community Health Sciences operates University Medical Center