A Fort Myers non-profit, mental health and substance abuse provider will be able to reduce wait times for appointments and possibly treat 1,000 more children and adolescents with mental illness thanks to a new grant.
SalusCare patients are currently waiting more than two months for an appointment. A one year, $300,000 grant will help it expand children’s mental health outpatient services.
SalusCare President and CEO Kevin Lewis said over the past year, they have experienced staffing issues, leaving less than one full time professional to oversee the treatment of 1,500 patients.
Lewis said there’s an unmet need in the community for mental health services, especially for children.
“There’s a lot of fear and anxiety about this,” said Lewis. “Mental illness is a very treatable disorder in most instances. These are treatable illnesses, great outcomes, people have lived long and successful lives. It’s when we avoid looking at it, that we create the problem.”
The provider recently hired two developmental pediatricians and two adolescent psychiatrists, along with six more physicians and advanced registered nurse practitioners.
Services for children and adolescents with mental illnesses include case management and supportive services for the patient’s family, medication management and outpatient therapy.
SalusCare’s goal is to reduce wait times to less than one week by October.