FEBRUARY 24 • 2022 | 35
mental health resources, paired
with decreased accessibility due
to COVID-19, has contributed
to a greater need for public
awareness on understanding
Michigan’s mental health care
system — which may not be as
complex as some people think.
CREATING SOLUTIONS
FOR ACCESSIBILITY
“COVID-19, isolation and all of
the things that came along with
it have increased depression
and anxiety across the board,
”
Rinaldi explains. “But there’s
layers on top of that.
”
Because of social distancing
and other public health
restrictions over the last two
years, the ongoing pandemic
has made it more difficult for
mental health practitioners to
see patients face-to-face. This
has added strain to the mental
health care system because
community engagement and
social interaction are key to
many treatment models for
mental illness.
“In our institution, our
waiting lists have ballooned to
many months to get treatment,
”
explains Dr. Richard Dopp, a
clinical associate
professor in the
Department of
Psychiatry at
University of
Michigan. “Some
clinics have even
stopped adding
names to waitlists.
”
Still, there are solutions —
and many services have gone
digital or hybrid for the time
being to continue reaching
populations in need.
Rinaldi says the best way
to seek out care is to simply
call Oakland County’s mental
health care hotline at 1-800-
231-1127 or Wayne County’s
mental health care hotline at
1-833-557-3224.
From there, callers can be
directed to the proper resources
to help them take the first
step in securing mental health
treatment.
Dopp adds that he hopes
the Mind Matters webinar will
help patients and their loved
ones further understand more
about issues such as treatment
that is helping but not helping
enough, the benefits of
psychotherapy, the role of
medications and some self-care
strategies that people can do to
improve their mood or the way
they function.
“It takes resilience and
knowledge to get the care you
need,
” he said.
Dr. Richard
Dopp
Mind Matters
March 3
7-8:30 p.m.
Register at https://umich.
zoom.us/webinar/reg-
ister/WN_gFt2hUoBT-
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