Blog posts with the tag "COVID-19"

Staff Perspective: Digging Deeper

As I write this, I am wrapping up end of year tasks (this is one of the last must-dos) and looking forward to 2022. I think it is going to look much different than any of us expected. I know for myself, I thought, perhaps naively, that we would be past some of the COVID challenges. I was hopeful at this time last year that we would be back to some normalcy. While things are different than a year ago, we still have a long way to go in managing life as COVID continues to bring more challenges and new variants.

Staff Perspective: Might ACT Provide an Important Inroad in the Treatment of Suicidal Thinking and Behaviors During COVID-19 and Beyond?

Dr. Erin Frick

Our profession continues to bend and shape to meet the needs of clients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, one concern taking up space in most mental health professionals’ minds is how the pandemic will impact suicide risk. The conventional wisdom is that the associated life stressors, relational challenges, and greater access to firearms due to a surge in sales all may lead to a perfect storm whereby more people will be at risk of dying by suicide.

Staff Perspective: Technology in Treatment

Dr. Sharon Birman

Over the past year, psychotherapy has undergone a revolution inspired by the widespread availability of digital technology. It was not long ago that psychotherapy was considered an intimate face-to-face connection between two people, unassisted by external apparatuses. Even with the increased popularity and accessibility of telemental health, some reservation remains regarding the role of technology in psychotherapy.

By the Numbers: 24 May 2021

361,538

The number of service members who "initiated a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine" between December 11, 2020 through March 12, 2021, according to a study in the April issue of Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch journal, Medical Surveillance Monthly Report (MSMR) -- Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccine Initiation and Completion Among Active Component Service Members and Health Care Personnel, 11 December 2020-12 March 2021. This represents 27.2% of total service members.

By the Numbers: 10 May 2021

556%

The percent increase of telemental health appointments in the VA Health Care System from January to April of 2020. Although this level has likely fallen off as in-person appointments become more available, it’s clear that telemental health will be a much larger part of mental health care than it has been. In a recent study consumer openness to telehealth jumped from 11% pre-COIVD to 76% post-COVID.

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