An Oakland County mental health agency has initiated a solution for people who can’t get an appointment for professional help with depression, anxiety and other issues.
Common Ground opened a virtual urgent care service in late April, with hopes of having a brick and mortar facility later this year.
Even before the pandemic, there was a need for this kind of service, says Jeff Kapuscinski, chief external relations officer.
The pandemic created more mental health needs and made it more difficult to get an appointment with a therapist or other professional, he said.
“It’s very much like a Zoom call,” he said of the urgent care service, with patients being able to see the professional helping them.
It’s different from a typical office conference call because there are extra measures put in place to protect the patient’s privacy, he said.
No appointment is needed, and the patient may be able to see a nurse practitioner who can help with medication refills.
Common Ground expects that urgent care will serve an estimated 15,000 people this year.
Urgent care is not for acute situations, such as assisting a patient who is suicidal, he said.
The nonprofit agency serves about 8,500 people per year with mental health needs at a facility on the grounds of the county government complex in Pontiac.
Common Ground hopes to locate the urgent care building in the southern half of Oakland County so it is more accessible to people in all of the tri-county area.
Mental health urgent care is a new idea to insurers, but they see the value in it, as it could prevent emergency room visits, Kapuscinski said.
To use the service, go to commongroundhelps.org and click on the purple urgent care icon.
It is available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
For dire situations, call the Common Ground Resource and Crisis Helpline at 800-231-1127. Those in need can call, text or chat 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
