SAN ANGELO, Texas — River Crest Hospital is dedicated to continuing to provide its mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospital officials say it is an uncertain and stressful time for many.
Taylor Harrison, director of clinical services at River Crest, said for some this has the potential of sparking up pre-existing conditions and also revealing some late mental conditions.
"So someone with an existing mental health condition like depression of anxiety. This is an edition all stress so any stress is going to cause difficulty with anyone with these problems," Harrison said.
Harrison says this is brand new and uncharted territory for everyone.
At River Crest, they have seen an influx in the number of patients needing care at their facility because of people seeking help with their mental health.
"Off the top of my head I would say a 10-20% increase of patients," Harrison said.
The hospital is also assisting its staff to make sure they have the right resources to continue to balance their mental health, while also providing high quality care.
"This is a crucial time for our staff to find those moments of self-care. Our staff are really gifted. They are dedicated individuals. They choose to work in health care for times just like these," Harrison said.
To help ease the anxiety among the staff, the hospital has been experimenting with new programs and recently introduced a relaxed dress code. Administrators are also making sure they keep the line of communication open.
River Crest Hospital will continue to accept and conduct sessions with patients virtually, as it continues to make every effort to keep services available for those who may need them.