The pandemic is taking a toll on our mental health. And experts are seeing a spike in children who need mental health services.
Carla Allan is the chief of Pediatric Psychology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
She says the pandemic has exacerbated the difficulty of providing kids access to help when they need it. And even before COVID-19, the state’s growing population has caused a supply and demand issue.
"In Arizona in particular, we’ve struggled with having the workforce that we need to really meet all of those needs and demands, even under usual circumstances," Allan said.
Allan also says Arizona already has fewer mental health workers than other states, ranking in the bottom third nationally.
While there is a worker shortage, the availability of telehealth has created a way for patients to get more access to services.
