New mental health clinic opens in Springfield, seeing patients and hiring

SPRINGFIELD — The urgent need for mental health care and the number of providers willing to help are going in opposite directions — but a new business in Springfield is aiming to change that, especially for the local immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities.

In addition to seeing people in need of care now, Alpha Care Services also is recruiting and hiring psychiatrists, psychologists and a range of therapists and caseworkers to handle its growing number of patients.

The wait for care across the Pioneer Valley can be up to six months, according to the company's chief operating officer, who said Alpha Care is striving for same-day service.

"You cannot make people wait up to six months for help," said COO Maria Silva. "By the time you get to that patient, the wait has been too long. Our goal is maintaining a 'no wait' status. I'm going to make sure anyone that calls today gets seen today virtually or in the office."

Alpha Care opened in May and its staff of 12 already has a caseload of 80 patients, and the demand for care is growing.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the U.S. is in a mental health crisis" across all demographics by people of all ages, with high numbers among young people.

"Drug overdose and suicide remain leading causes of deaths … associated with mental distress," the CDC notes.

While Silva said her ambition is to see patients immediately, hiring staff to keep that promise is an ongoing challenge. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation notes that the state "is at a critical crossroads, as growth in the behavioral health workforce and the talent pipeline is not keeping pace with the higher demand for services."

"Agencies in general are struggling to hire staff. I'm seeing a trend where (providers) don't want to deal with seeing patients. They want to be supervisors. I received (calls from) four people who just got their licenses, and they don't want to see patients. I lost four potential therapists," said Silva.

Alpha Care is trying to attract talent by boosting pay and benefits, and assigning staff to their areas of interest, such as teenagers, adults, families or couples.

Silva said her organization will serve a wide swath of people from different backgrounds, with a focus on marginalized groups.

"They are put on the back burners because of language barriers or cultural diversity. We want to help people in general, but also the ones pushed to the side because agencies don't have that cultural diversity they need to provide services to these folks," said Silva.

In Washington, D.C., Congressional Democrats are accusing Republicans of ending health insurance coverage for millions of Americans by approving billions of dollars in spending cuts at the behest of President Donald Trump.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates cuts of $1.02 trillion will bounce 10.5 million people from Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program by 2034.

Silva said she's already seeing people lose insurance coverage for mental health services.

"It hits you when you see the desperation of the patients and their families. We do not stop services. We have been doing some pro bono work," she said.

Silva said she and her staff are also helping patients receive coverage through MassHealth and the Massachusetts Health Connector.

Alpha caseworkers also are working with local employers to expand open enrollment periods if their employees have an emergency need.

Learn more at alphacare413.com.

Read the original article on MassLive .