Fort Wayne mental healthcare providers see surge in cases during pandemic

Mental healthcare staff members say the surge in patients has increased their need for more staff and the revamping of services to fulfill patient needs.

Mental health cases continue to rise across fort wayne due to covid-19 pressures.

Fox 55's mallory beard is live in the studio to tell us more about the conditions of mental health care providers and how much they can give when patients are calling on them more often.

Yes chris i spoke with mental health care staff members who say cases have indeed increased since covid-19 hit.

But they've adjusted to patients' concerns because they see the need is great.

Stephen garrell//headwaters executive director "people have said that 2020 has been the worst year ever and i disagree with it because i've been so impressed with the resiliency of the people that we've worked with."

Headwaters counseling executive director stephen garrell says he's proud of the nearly 1000 patients he and his staff have treated this year.they've seen a surge in cases since the pandemic.

Stephen garrell//headwaters counseling executive director "last december, january, our services had dropped some and then we were down to probably 6 or 700 and so they've gone up 30, 35%."

Increasing the need for new staff and requiring current staff to revamp their services.stephen garrell//headwaters counseling executive director "we're scheduling people as quickly as we can.

We've hired a few new staff.

And we're running at full capacity right now as far as wise and we can keep getting people in."

Both headwaters counseling and the bowen center implemented teletherapy in the spring when covid-19 hit northeast indiana.

Dr. robert ryan//senior vice president of operations at the bowen center "if people feel more comfortable from home they can use video or telephone."

The bowen center's doctor robert ryan says teletherapy was the only option for their staff and patients between march and september.

Difficult for patients who needed to meet in person.

And for staff who helped by reading body languange.

Dr. robert ryan//senior vice president of operations at the bowen center "what we've really done and focused on is non-judgmental, help you when you're ready, where you're at help."

Ryan says the pandemic has driven some patients back into habits of substance abuse and isolation, but garrell says there's still a silver lining for those who've sought therapy during a pandemic.

Stephen garrell//headwaters counseling executive director "they realize there's something different going on here and they want to make the best of it, and the want to be the best for their family and their friends...and themselves."

Both headwaters counseling and the bowen center have emergency twenty-four hour call lines if you are in need of assistance.

The numbers are right there on your screen.

Reporting live in the studio, i'm mallory beard.

Fox 55 news.