‘You are not alone’: Comtrea guides people struggling with COVID’s mental health challenges
Comtrea has provided mental health and other health services within Jefferson County and beyond for 47 years, and the agency will continue to do so, even in the midst of a pandemic, CEO Sue Curfman said.
“Comtrea has an excellent track record of being adaptable, resilient and responsive to the changing needs of the community we serve,” she said. “About 10 years ago, we noticed a need for affordable and accessible primary care and dental care. This was a huge undertaking, but our mission is to meet the needs of our community.
“We now offer primary care, general dentistry, emergency dental services and pediatric primary care and dental care.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been our latest opportunity to display adaptability and resiliency,” Curfman said.
For example, she said, Comtrea has recognized that COVID-19 can create “additional challenges” for people already struggling with mental health issues.
“You are not in this alone,” she said. “Many resources are available to help people navigate through this crisis.”
She cited NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) as “one of the most credible resources” to help people negotiate the crisis. NAMI’s COVID-19 Guide can be accessed online at www.nami.org.
Curfman said statistics regarding recent use of Comtrea’s services are encouraging, showing the agency is continuing to meet the community’s needs, despite the challenges posed by the virus.
“For the week of Aug. 17-21, we were at 95 percent of our pre-COVID statistics,” Curfman said. “Our primary care had 220 visits and our (dental) care had 395. Our mental health services have been relatively unaffected through telehealth (phone and video) and in-person visits.”
No matter the situation, Comtrea will continue to help, Curfman said.
“Our community and patients are adaptable and resilient, even during a global pandemic,” she said. “At Comtrea, we have been and will be adaptable and resilient as we follow our mission to serve Jefferson County.”
