Mental Health Centers Move Online

The New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association (CBHA), comprised of 10 member Community Mental Health Centers, is working to shift services online. The move is expected to address the recommended social distancing per Center for Disease Control guidelines. As the number of cases of COVID-19 increases, so does anxiety. The mental health effects of COVID-19 will need to be managed as more and more people suffer loss and isolation.

Local community mental health centers are open and working diligently to meet the needs of anyone who needs mental health assistance. However, among the challenges the centers face are the same challenges other health care providers are experiencing statewide: a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for both clients and staff; managing patients who require in-home visits while following social distancing guidelines; and continued work towards protecting the financial integrity of nonprofit health care providers. Many of the centers provide injectable medications that require the use of PPEs.   

While walk-ins are not accepted currently, there are many options for clients to find support. Several centers have already successfully transitioned to Telehealth, telephone supports and online and video platforms.

Member centers:

Riverbend Community Behavioral Health: https://www.riverbendcmhc.org   ( 603) 228-1600

Seacoast Mental Health Center: https://smhc-nh.org   (603) 431-6703

Lakes Region Mental Health: https://www.lrmhc.org   (603) 524-1100

The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester: https://www.mhcgm.org    (603) 668-4111

Greater Nashua Mental Health Center: https://gnmhc.org   (603) 889-6147

Community Partners: https://communitypartnersnh.org  (603) 516-9300

Center for Life Management: https://www.centerforlifemanagement.org (603)-434-1577

Northern Human Services: https://northernhs.org  (603) 447-8001

Monadnock Family Services: https://www.mfs.org   (603) 357-4400

West Central Behavioral Health: https://www.wcbh.org (603) 542-5128

Further, each center is releasing information relevant and important for their clients and the public through their websites and social media channels.

Roland Lamy, executive director of CBHA, said, “This is a difficult time for all of us and it is particularly hard for adults and children with mental illness. We want all citizens to know that their community mental health centers are ready to help and are working hard to make access to services available via telehealth and by telephone.  If you or a loved one needs support, you can reach out to your local mental health center, listed below. We are all in this together and we each need to stay well for the sake of everyone in our state, our nation, and the world.”