Mental Health Services Lacking On Long Island Since Pandemic: Study

OCEANSIDE, NY — A study confirms what many people already knew. Mental health has been a problem since the pandemic began in early 2020.

Even more problematic, the survey from Mount Sinai South Nassau found a
third of Long Islanders who sought mental health services had a tough
time getting a provider, even though the overwhelming majority had
health insurance.
The hospital's "Truth in Medicine" poll
indicated anxiety, depression, social isolation and fear of contracting
COVID-19 as the main reasons for seeking a mental health professional.

Of those who took part, 600 Long Island residents - 92 percent of the
total number of participants – have active health insurance policies.
Since
the start of the pandemic, about 84 percent of mental health providers
have seen an increase in demand for treatment of anxiety, compared with
74 percent a year ago, while 72 percent of providers have seen an
increase in demand for treatment of depression, compared with 60 percent
in 2020, according to the poll.

"We have a crisis on Long Island when it comes to the lack of mental health
services," says Adhi Sharma, MD, President of Mount Sinai South Nassau.
"The poll results strongly indicate that providers are working at or
beyond capacity. This calls for an aggressive expansion of mental health
screening, prevention, and intervention services to meet the present
and future demand for them."
The poll results give emphasis to
the cause of National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month,
which is being observed nationwide throughout October, to raise
awareness of the urgent need for accessible and affordable mental health
screenings and services.