The COVID-19 pandemic has affected day-to-day life for nearly everyone around the world, and negatively affected many people’s mental health. For people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders, it has created new barriers to care and treatment. Behavioral health clinicians have found and are continuing to look for new ways to access and work with these individuals during this time of social distancing, and many of have found that this creative hard work is beginning to pay off, evidenced by client buy-in to treatment and anecdotal stories of personal success, improved relationships, etc.
Join Fred Munroe as he speaks with Andrew Hook, a licensed professional clinical counselor with the County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health Department; SLO County behavorial health clinician Cassie Ueberrhein and Marlena Tanner, registered dietitian and supervisor certified in the treatment of eating disorders and owner of an outpatient group practice called The Yellow House Project, as they discuss the challenges and opportunities in accessing help for mental health and substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.