VIRGINIA
BEACH, Va. (AP) — Mental health experts say that military families and
veterans are reaching out more for assistance during the coronavirus
pandemic.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday that clinicians providing help online have seen requests skyrocket.

Sarah Pitzen, the lead clinician at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at The Up Center in Virginia Beach, said staff have had to provide additional support to current clients because their “pre-existing conditions had worsened.”

Pitzen
said they’re also seeing a rise in risks associated with domestic
violence, suicide, child abuse and drug and alcohol addiction. They’re
also seeing more stress, anxiety and depression.

“There’s
just an increased need for connection, to be quite honest,” she said.
“Even at intake, clients are really testing the waters. They might not
want to come in for behavioral health services per se, but they want
that connection. So we’ve made a pivot at intake to explain the benefits
of telehealth, that they would be connected to people face to face.”

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