BLOOMFIELD HILLS (WWJ) -- Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there's been a growing need for mental health services. In response, Metro Detroit will be getting its first virtual Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) with a physical location opening later this year.
Common Ground, a nonprofit providing mental health crisis services in the area, will be opening a physical location in south Oakland County to help those with less acute conditions such as depression, anxiety or substance abuse.
Currently, the clinic will be operating through a telehealth service staffed by mental health professionals working under the direction of a psychiatrist.
This virtual option made mental health services more accessible to those in Oakland County, considering this kind of help was already scarce. The area only had one crisis center for its 1.2 million people, which was the Common Ground Resource and Crisis Center in Pontiac.
Common Ground also operates a 24-hour shelter for at-risk youth in Royal Oak, Michigan and mobile crisis teams in Genesee County.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has put additional stress on people’s mental health, adding to the growing demand for behavioral health services,” said Heather Rae, president and CEO of Common Ground. “As a recognized leader in crisis and mental health care with 50 years of experience providing compassionate, professional and comprehensive services, we were compelled to do more to meet community needs for timely, affordable access to care. Behavioral Health Urgent Care is an innovative approach that’s new to the Detroit area, but has been successful in other areas of the state and country.”
Kapuscinski spoke with WWJ Newsradio 950's health reporter Dr. Deanna Lites, saying that during the first three months of the pandemic, Common Ground saw a 50% increase in phone calls to their resources and crisis helpline.
The increase in need for mental health care just amplified the need for a physical component paired with the virtual.
"When the physical space opens later this year combined between the virtual and physical space we believe that we can help an additional 15,000 people or more on an annual basis," said Kapuscinski.
Similar to urgent care for a physical illness, Common Ground said BHUC will provide assessment and treatment for urgent -- but not emergency -- mental health needs, in order to de-escalate symptoms before they accelerate into a life-or-death crisis.
The nonprofit added that this clinic will offer a cost-effective and timely alternative to emergency room care.
The BHUC service will also help those who can’t get in to see their doctor, providing those with access to prescriptions that help to stabilize a mental health condition.
Common Ground said they will seek insurance reimbursement for BHUC services through patients’ health insurers, but all people -- with and without insurance -- are welcome to utilize their services.
Those services will include medication review and bridge medication prescriptions, psychiatric evaluation, health assessments, care coordination and referrals to follow-up care in order to meet ongoing needs.
The new virtual service is accessible Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through the Common Ground website at www.commongroundhelps.org.