Ames psychologist hopes to grow access to mental health care, especially for people 21 and younger
Phillip SitterThe owner and operator of Central Iowa Psychological Services is working with Iowa State University colleagues to expand access to mental health care across the state through a virtual network of services.
Warren Phillips heads CIPS and is a psychology professor at ISU. Phillips and Ashley Scudder — a lecturer in ISU's Department of Human Development and Family Studies — got a $50,000 grant last year from the Telligen Community Initiative for the startup costs of a telehealth network.
Phillips said Scudder, her assistants and CIPS project coordinator Abby Grove are the ones who have contacted more than 600 medical practices across the state to invite them to enroll in the network — the Psychiatric and Behavioral Health Consultation Program, or PBHC.
"Really, the tough part, honestly, has been more just finding ways of reaching out and connecting with all the practices," he said.
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PBHC is a billable, free to enroll in network to help primary care providers such as pediatricians but also schools get advice or connect with resources for children up to the age of 21 with behavioral health concerns, according to a flyer Phillips shared.
The program team is available to help providers with needs from common mental health such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mild depression, anxiety, trauma, bipolar disorder and substance abuse.
The team can also connect providers and their patients with resources for specialty psychiatric care and medication needs as needed.
So far, PBHC has provided consultation to Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Story County Medical Center in Nevada, the Ames Community School District and the Davis County Community School District in Bloomfield, according to a news release from ISU.
CIPS has locations in Ames, Ankeny and West Des Moines.
Access to needed care is obviously important when someone is in a crisis, but Phillips said having access to mental health services also helps us all live the lives we want to live — that's parents looking for parenting skills to better connect with, guide and teach their children and children who learn from their parents the skills they need to have their own self-awareness to lead healthy lives.
While the grant funding only lasts through the end of the year, Phillips said "we have this set up so it’s a sustainable project."
The need for more mental health care in Iowa
Phillips said health authorities in Iowa have been trying to meet the unmet need for mental health care for years, but it's not enough to just try to get more people to be mental health professionals; getting information and consultation to all other people who serve children and families is another way.
As of Sept. 30, 2020, Iowa had 90 geographic areas and population groups designated as having a shortage of mental health care professionals, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
That represented more than 1.8 million people living in areas with a shortage, where only 35.2% of the need for care was being met.
The Kaiser Family Foundation noted that 62 mental health practitioners would be needed for those areas to no longer be designated as having a shortage.
As of mid-March 2020, the care area that includes Boone and Story counties was short more than five full-time mental health professionals, according to data from the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
Phillips said there are nationwide shortages in all mental health fields, and particularly in terms of occupations that can prescribe medication, such as psychiatrists and nurse practitioners.
While it does take years of schooling, training and licensing to become a mental health professional, “I strongly encourage people to go into it. There’s tremendous need," he said.
What PBHC has meant for providers so far
Scudder said outreach to providers has gone on for about three months.
She said it's clear there are universal needs, but also community-specific ones, and a lot of conversations have been about getting to know communities — while not aiming to replace local services.
"When they call, we want to know who's calling and be able to tailor the service to the need that they generally have in their community," Scudder said.
In terms of what some of those needs are, she said the COVID-19 pandemic has particularly impacted families who have children with behavioral challenges, but families in general are looking for support on how to structure and manage even typical parenting challenges.
Scudder said providers have been excited about the opportunity to be able to call with even small questions and get an immediate response.
She said the idea of a network of providers consulting with other providers is not a new one, but using telehealth is a unique approach as opposed to using phone calls.
She said PBHC also wants to know how things are working and where improvements can be made, and will determine that by collecting information such as post-consultation satisfaction.
Scudder also said it's a goal to offer virtual training at least once a year for professionals and parents, and this year, that training will be Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-developed training on behavioral issues.
Phillips also said there could be some coordination between PBHC and the new Iowa Center for School Mental Health that Gov. Kim Reynolds recently announced — a $20 million initiative using federal money.
Those interested in enrolling in PBHC can receive more information by calling 515-349-1947 or emailing pbhc@iowacounseling.com.
Phillips said enrollment will continue even after the grant runs out.
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Phillip Sitter covers education for the Ames Tribune, including Iowa State University and PreK-12 schools in Ames and elsewhere in Story County. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.