Category: Telehealth/m-Health
Rochelle Hanson, Ph.D.
Professor
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Amanda Jensen-Doss, Ph.D.
Professor
University of Miami
Miami, Florida
Andel Nicasio, Ph.D., Other
Associate Professor
Albizu University
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Kelsey McCoy, M.A.
Psychology Inter
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Simone Schriger, M.A.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rochelle Hanson, Ph.D.
Professor
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a widespread impact on behavioral health, reducing access and availability of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) and affecting treatment delivery and training methods. Social distancing requirements and contagion concerns necessitated a pivot to remote methods for both treatment delivery and workforce training (Molfenter et al., 2021). Leading professional organizations, such as the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP, 2021), have declared a mental health emergency for youth and families (Leeb et al., 2020). Additionally, there has been a concomitant impact on the mental health workforce, with high rates of turn over, burn out, and challenges navigating personal and professional responsibilities. As such, it is critical for research to examine the impact of COVID-19 on mental health providers (MHP) and youth seen in community mental health settings. This symposium consists of 4 papers that examine the impact of COVID-19 from the perspectives of MHP, administrators, youth and caregivers. The first paper presents data from a qualitative study conducted in Puerto Rico. Originally intended to address the mental health needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, the focus of this study shifted to examining the impact of the COVID-related transition to telehealth services in an under-resourced mental health system. Online surveys and qualitative interviews were completed by MHPs, administrators, children and caregivers to assess their perspectives, levels of satisfaction, barriers and facilitators of the transition to telehealth. The second paper involves a mixed-methods study that examined the impact of COVID-19 on MHPs participation in a statewide training initiative focused on implementation of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). Pre and post surveys assessed MHPs’ competence in delivering TF-CBT, responses to COVID-related challenges, and impact of these challenges on TF-CBT delivery and completion of training requirements. Qualitative interviews explored barriers and facilitators to completing requirements and delivering TF-CBT. Given the importance of supervision as a training/implementation strategy to support quality EBT delivery, the third paper shares a case example of a multi-component supervision approach within a community mental health clinic that leveraged technology to support delivery of exposure therapy for youth. This paper offers great potential for use of virtual supervision as a way to sustain quality EBP delivery, even in the event of a global health emergency. The final paper presents data from a sample of youth receiving TF-CBT from therapists participating in one of four Learning Collaboratives (LC) conducted as part of a statewide initiative pre- (2017/2018) and peri-COVID (2020/2021). Data were examined to compare youth pre and peri-COVID on several variables, including pre-treatment symptom severity (PTSD and depression), treatment duration and completion, and pre to post treatment symptom changes. Collectively, these papers add to the burgeoning data on the impact of COVID, while also providing information that can guide future efforts for preparing and responding to global health emergencies.
Presenter: Andel V. Nicasio, Ph.D., Other – Albizu University
Co-author: Regan Stewart, Ph.D. – Medical University of South Carolina
Co-author: Aubrey Dueweke, Ph.D. – East Tennessee State University
Co-author: Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo, Ph.D. – Medical University of South Carolina
Presenter: Kelsey McCoy, M.A. – Medical University of South Carolina
Co-author: Angela Moreland, Ph.D. – Medical University of South Carolina
Co-author: Samuel Peer, Ph.D. – Idaho State University
Co-author: Shelby Wade, PhD – Medical University of South Carolina
Co-author: Rochelle F. Hanson, Ph.D. – Medical University of South Carolina
Presenter: Simone Schriger, M.A. – University of Pennsylvania
Co-author: Austin Boroshok, MA – University of Pennsylvania
Co-author: Anika Khan, MA – University of Pennsylvania
Co-author: Leah Wang, MA – University of Pennsylvania
Co-author: Emily M. Becker-Haimes, Ph.D. – University of Pennsylvania
Presenter: Rochelle F. Hanson, Ph.D. – Medical University of South Carolina
Co-author: Hannah Espeleta, Ph.D. – Medical University of South Carolina
Co-author: Samuel Peer, Ph.D. – Idaho State University
Co-author: Shelby Wade, PhD – Medical University of South Carolina