Mental health services see influx during pandemic

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- During the COVID-19 Pandemic, mental health has been one of the biggest issues in several communities. Several mental health centers have seen an influx of patients all year, but now during the holidays, that number has doubled.

Be Well Counseling is one mental health center that has seen that number of patients spike this holiday season. What is more worrisome for the center is the number of suicides this year.

For this center, they’ve had to adjust. If a patient cancels, they’ll move on to the next patient on the waiting list.

Christine Ault is the Clinical Director at Be Well Counseling and this year her major concern has been suicide.

“We're seeing a lot more suicides, not through our agency specifically, but I think across the board in general," said Christine Ault, Clinical Director at Be Well Counseling.
The CDC reported more than 40 percent of U.S. adults say they’ve had at least one mental health event and a percentage of that has led to suicide. This is why the center is trying their best to help any patients they can.

Right now, most patients at the center are expressing feelings of anxiety and loneliness.

“We're seeing a lot more people struggle with that sense of safety that we normally have, they're feeling very out of control. I think the holidays are a time when we usually feel those feelings anyway, but now they're very, you know, they're exacerbated by the covid as well,” added Ault.

With many mental health facilities seeing a large influx in patients, Be Well Counseling is urging those who are struggling to reach out to the National Alliance of Mental Illness hotline.