BEHAVIORAL Health and Telehealth: Challenges and Opportunities

Jeff Thomas, CEO, Frontier Behavioral Health 

Melissa Hurt-Moran, Substance Abuse Disorder Clinical Manager, Camas Health 

David Condon, VP Eastern Washington, Premera Blue Cross

Even before the pandemic, there were increasing numbers of people in our community experiencing anxiety, depression and substance abuse. The pandemic has brought on a dramatic increase in the numbers of people who need behavioral health care, with disproportionate numbers of youth and members of the BIPOC communities.  At the same time, there is a growing shortage of behavioral health providers.  Delivering services through telehealth shows promise, but challenges remain.  Three community experts shared their experiences and perspectives with the intersection of behavioral health and telehealth during the pandemic. The panelists also suggested potential research questions for further study. Breakout room discussions focused on identifying research questions and exploring how they can addressed.