IN A CRISIS
COVID-19 HAS LEFT BAY AREA MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
People still need help, but virus fears have created financial and staffing shortages
As doctors and nurses around the Bay Area scramble to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, David Mineta is trying to navigate a less-publicized emergency caused by the global pandemic — a burgeoning mental health crisis. Patients have stopped coming in for their appointments because of the statewide shelter-inplace order, said Mineta, president and CEO of Momentum for Mental Health, a Santa Clara County nonprofit that provides mental health care for lowincome residents. And that means they aren’t getting the help they need during this trying time. It also means Momentum’s revenues are way down, and the organization may have to start implementing furloughs soon.
But at the same time, Mineta predicts the need for mental health help is about to explode all over the country, as shelter-in-place orders are lifted and people begin to grapple with the toll the pandemic has taken on their lives. When that happens, Mineta fears that without help from the county and the state, he and other providers won’t have the capacity to meet the increased need.
Mineta sat down with this news organization (by phone — to practice social distancing) to talk about the crisis his industry is facing. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Q
How is the coronavirus crisis affecting the Bay Area’s mental health facilities?
A
In general, like many other parts of the health care system, patients and clients are not coming in for appointments, canceling appointments that they would normally have, and as a result, the agencies, institutions, hospitals are not able to bill what they would normally bill. We think for the month of March we were probably at about 50% of normal billed services. And that’s revenue. So that revenue then pays for salaries, benefits and keeping the lights on and leases and rent. The question is how long will that go on?
Q
How is that impacting your ability to help patients?
A
It adds to the worry and concern of the staff. In order for us to be able to provide services, our staff have to be safe and healthy as well. And folks are either worried about infection or if we have enough supplies. All the personal protective equipment that you hear about for shortages in the hospital, those are as much of an issue for us.
Q
Do you have enough personal protective equipment?
A
We had some. After the fires it occurred to us that man, we need to have some N95 masks
“The worry is that even now as people are sheltering in place, that their conditions are possibly getting more acute as they sit home.” — David Mineta, CEO of Momentum for Mental Health