As thousands of Louisiana residents with COVID-19 diagnoses and symptoms care for themselves in isolation, they may experience anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns. In collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), the Louisiana Affiliate of Mental Health America, the Mental Health Association for Greater Baton Rouge (MHA), is partnering with Louisiana Healthcare Connections, a Medicaid health plan, to provide free clinical trainings to mental health providers and to the general public to prepare them to address the needs of those living in isolation.
“Social isolation and loneliness can increase feelings of depression and anxiety, and lead to negative health consequences for those with chronic mental health conditions,” said Melissa Silva, MHA Executive Director. “We want to reduce these risks by increasing the availability of appropriate mental health support for those who need it, and making this training available at no cost to providers and to the public is allowing us to do that.”
The MHA worked with Louisiana Healthcare Connections to utilize the health plan’s existing training infrastructure and team of clinically trained educators to provide the training series. The web-based series features six 15-minute courses. The trainings are accessible via any mobile smart device, and are available on-demand to allow clinicians to complete the courses at their own pace, on their own schedules. The courses are designed for Peer Support Specialists and Mental Health Rehabilitation (MHR) providers, but are available to the public. The skills and information may be useful to anyone facing or supporting someone with anxiety, grief or depression in this time.
The training series includes the following courses:
· COVID-19: An Overview
· Helping the Helper
· Effective Communication
· Communicating With OARS – A Motivational Interviewing Approach
· De-Escalation
· Anxiety and PTSD
The courses are available online now, free of charge, at www.LAHealth.cc/covidtrainings.
In addition, clinicians may access a full menu of additional behavioral health trainings via Louisiana Healthcare Connections’ comprehensive clinical training catalog. The health plan’s Training and Education Course Catalog features more than 50 free, web-based courses, many of which offer Continuing Education (CE) credits related to licensure requirements. Providers may learn more and register for upcoming courses at www.LAhealth.cc/training.
“As our state works diligently to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that we are immediately responsive to the needs of those fighting this virus,” said Stewart Gordon, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Louisiana Healthcare Connections. “Making this training available at no cost to healthcare providers, and to the general public, ensures that our residents have access to the quality mental health support they need to overcome the adverse effects of isolation.”
Behavioral healthcare providers statewide are encouraged to take advantage of these free trainings. To learn more or to register to take a course on-demand, please visit www.LAHealth.cc/covidtrainings.
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About Louisiana Healthcare Connections
Established to deliver quality healthcare through local, regional and community-based partners, Louisiana Healthcare Connections is a Healthy Louisiana Plan headquartered in Baton Rouge, La. Louisiana Healthcare Connections exists to improve the health of its members through focused, compassionate and coordinated care. Because Louisiana Healthcare Connections believes healthy is a way of life, its members benefit from programs and services designed for their personal well-being. For more information, www.LouisianaHealthConnect.com.
About the Mental Health Association for Greater Baton Rouge
The Mental Health Association for Greater Baton Rouge (MHA) is the Louisiana affiliate for Mental Health America and has been in operation since 1954. The Mission of the Mental Health Association for Greater Baton Rouge is to provide services and advocate for persons with, or at risk for, mental health and substance abuse issues; and to educate about mental and substance abuse needs. MHA has multidimensional programming addressing many facets of Mental Health. The Alliance House Drop-In center is host to around 200 clients with a variety of mental health issues. MHA launched a new statewide peer-to-peer support program in 2018 to focus on whole health management called Target Health. A second statewide program focused on advocacy began in July 2019. In 1996, MHA started the Bielkiewicz House Residential Center to provide transitional living for men and women with co-occurring disorders (substance abuse and mental illness) leaving a substance abuse rehabilitation program or jail. MHA hosts an annual conference for professionals in mental health related fields and other training and professional development opportunities throughout the year.
