With half of Philadelphia residents reporting they or someone in their household has been seriously depressed or anxious since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to affordable, convenient mental health care services is critical. However, many have experienced trouble accessing therapy or mental health services.
CVS Health is directly addressing the urgent need by connecting community members with newly launched mental health counseling and care services at eleven Philadelphia and southern New Jersey MinuteClinics inside CVS HealthHUB store locations.
To help alleviate the stress many people face when considering therapy, CVS Health has added Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) to its MinuteClinic staff at these locations, offering a new option for mental health counseling services in the local community. Through these expanded MinuteClinic services, individuals can receive mental health assessments, referrals, counseling and personalized care plans in-person or via telehealth.
“With the addition of these new services at MinuteClinic, we’re now able to offer the community an innovative, straight-forward approach to mental health care counseling,” said Angela Patterson, Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer, MinuteClinic and Vice President, CVS Health. “The addition of the LCSWs are a key asset supporting CVS Health’s opportunity to provide access to mental health care on the community level at MinuteClinic.”
The launch of MinuteClinic mental health counseling services comes at a time when community members need help more than ever. According to a local study from Drexel University, many residents report experiencing heightened anxiety and/or depression due to employment issues over the past year. Other stressors are significant, including grief, with Hispanic and Black residents being most likely to have lost someone they know during the pandemic.
Philadelphia small business owner Angela Clark recently began utilizing the new mental health services the same day she inquired at her local MinuteClinic after being told by another provider that an appointment would not be available for weeks.
“CVS was definitely convenient for me,” said Clark. “Working two jobs and being a mother of five, I only have one day off and that’s Sunday, and I called CVS on a Sunday. To be able to get counseling on a Sunday is unheard of.”
With a goal to increase access to care for community members in need, these new MinuteClinic services in select HealthHUB locations are also an approachable resource for young adults who may be more comfortable accessing care virtually.
Those interested in the new mental health counseling services at CVS can expect:
An introductory conversation:
- During the initial assessment, a LCSW will help assess an individual’s current situation and explore potential options for care.
Personalized care planning:
- The LCSW will create an individualized care plan with the goal of improving an individual’s mental health and total wellbeing.
Counseling services for continual support:
- Ongoing counseling sessions with a LCSW are available to help address each individual’s areas of concern, including stress, anxiety and depression.
Navigation and collaboration:
- If an individual has a need for higher levels of care, the MinuteClinic LCSWs will work with a local provider network based on the individual’s health care plan and coverage status. They will assist with finding an appropriate specialist and collaborate with the individual’s existing providers, when appropriate.
To learn more and schedule an in-store or telehealth appointment, call 1-855-417-2486 or visit cvs.com/mentalhealth.
