Safe mental health care during the COVID-19 outbreak
Published 2:27 pm Thursday, April 30, 2020
VA Encourages Veterans To Access VA Mental Health Support From Home
MOUNTAIN HOME — May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Now more than ever, the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center (JHQVAMC) is committed to providing high-quality mental health care while keeping Veterans safe from exposure to the coronavirus.
To help reduce the risk of infection at the facility, JHQVAMC asks that Veterans use VA’s
online resources for routine or non-urgent mental health care and questions. This will help protect Veterans from contracting COVID-19 while enabling providers at JHQVAMC to focus on care for Veterans with the most acute needs.
“Due to COVID-19 precautionary measures, and out of concern for our local Veterans, we are honoring current physical distancing guidelines,” said Dean B. Borsos, Medical Center Director at JHQVAMC. “Through VA’s virtual care tools, we are able to leverage available technology to make sure that our patients and staff are as safe as possible during this time.”
VA offers Veterans a variety of at-home resources, including the following:
Telephone or Video Appointments — Veterans should maintain their existing mental health appointments — and may receive care at home — using VA Video Connect on their computers, smartphones, or tablets. To set up telephone or video appointments, Veterans can send their health care provider a secure message on My HealtheVet by visiting myhealth.va.gov. Veterans can learn more about VA Video Connect at mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect.
Prescription Refills and Safety — Veterans should continue taking all medications as prescribed and talk to their mental health provider if they have any concerns. Veterans may request prescription refills and order shipments of medications to their homes using My HealtheVet or the Rx Refill mobile app, which can be downloaded at mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill. VA’s Safe Home Environment handout provides information on safely storing medications in the home.
Mental Health Information and Resources — VA provides information on ways for Veterans and their families to maintain and enhance their mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak. Information about managing stress and anxiety, as well as mental health resources, are available at www.mentalhealth.va.gov/coronavirus/resources.
